The spire of a building such as a church is the tall pointed structure on the top.
Synonyms: steeple, turret, pillar, column More Synonyms of spire
spire in British English1
(spaɪə)
noun
1. Also called: steeple
a tall structure that tapers upwards to a point, esp one on a tower or roof or one that forms the upper part of a steeple
2.
a slender tapering shoot or stem, such as a blade of grass
3.
the apical part of any tapering formation; summit
verb
4. (intransitive)
to assume the shape of a spire; point up
5. (transitive)
to furnish with a spire or spires
Word origin
Old English spīr blade; related to Old Norse spīra stalk, Middle Low German spīr shoot, Latin spīna thorn
spire in British English2
(spaɪə)
noun
1.
any of the coils or turns in a spiral structure
2.
the apical part of a spiral shell
Derived forms
spiriferous (spaɪəˈrɪfərəs)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin spīra a coil, from Greek speira
spire in American English1
(spaɪr)
noun
1.
a spiral or coil
2.
any of the convolutions of a spiral or coil
3. Zoology
the upper part of a spiral shell of a gastropod
Word origin
Fr < L spira < Gr speira < IE base *sper-, to turn, wrap > Latvian sprangāt, to lace up
spire in American English2
(spaɪr)
noun
1.
a sprout, spike, or stalk of a plant, a blade of grass, etc.
2.
the top part of a pointed, tapering object or structure, as a mountain peak
3.
anything that tapers to a point, as a pointed structure capping a tower or steeple
verb intransitiveWord forms: spired or ˈspiring
4.
to extend upward, tapering to a point; shoot up or rise in, or put forth, a spire or spires
Derived forms
spired
adjective
Word origin
ME < OE spir, akin to ON spīra: for IE base see spike1
Examples of 'spire' in a sentence
spire
It is interesting to look closely at one of the tall spires.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Make use of your local church spire.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The building is capped by a spire topped with a golden crescent.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Last month there were large clusters of it with spires of pink blossom.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Their spires of tall flowers seem to burst from nowhere and within a few days the taller varieties tower over other plants.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Take a tower tour up 332 steps to the base of the spire to see amazing views.
The Sun (2013)
You can happily lose a day or two wandering under the old quarter's spires and towers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's as marvellous as a church spire running off down a country lane to join the circus.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
A Norman church spire overlooking it all.
Jan Fennell FRIENDS FOR LIFE (2003)
It seems to end abruptly - and that is because it was topped by a spire that was knocked clean off by a lightning bolt.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In the background one can see the college spires and the dome of the Radcliffe Camera.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
The Duke has also opened up the rooftops, offering glorious views of church spires and domes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
To the left is the Stockholm skyline, all domed roofs and angular spires.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Cathedral spires were tall, thin, and extremely heavy because they were covered with sheets of lead.
Christianity Today (2000)
At the site where the Twin Towers once stood a new spire can be seen from outside the courthouse.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As he does so, the ghosts of countless equine legends will peer down between the racetrack's famous spires.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It will have similar stone steps up to the front door, a conical roof, a spire and a chimney.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The city emerged from the midday heat, a series of slender, shimmering spires that grew larger as we headed upstream.
The Sun (2015)
It's terrific to look up and see the spires and roofs of the towns ahead, as people have done in centuries past.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Grade I listed and needs work on tower and spire, a new gutter and drainage system.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
By putting up the fence, are you blocking out the view of a wonderful tree in a neighbouring plot, or perhaps a church spire in the distance?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All lifts and whitewashed spiral staircases lead to the rooftop pool, with views of spires and rolling green hills, that crowns the complex of four thermal pools.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Word lists with
spire
architectural features
In other languages
spire
British English: spire /spaɪə/ NOUN
The spire of a church is a tall cone-shaped structure on top of a tower.