spire

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a slender tapering blade or stalk (as of grass)
2
: the upper tapering part of something (such as a tree or antler) : pinnacle
3
a
: a tapering roof or analogous pyramidal construction surmounting a tower
b
: steeple
a church spire

Illustration of spire

Illustration of spire
  • S spire 3a

spire

2 of 4

verb (1)

spired; spiring

intransitive verb

: to rise like a spire

spire

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
a
: spiral
b
: coil
2
: the inner or upper part of a spiral gastropod shell consisting of all the whorls except the whorl in contact with the body

spire

4 of 4

verb (2)

spired; spiring

intransitive verb

: to rise in or as if in a spiral

Examples of spire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Twitter More From The Post Notre Dame’s new spire unveiled after 2019 fire, complete with golden rooster Feb. 14, 2024 Thursday briefing: Kansas City shooting; national security threat; Trump in court; SpaceX moon launch; Notre Dame; and more Today at 10:00 a.m. Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 The new spire is the latest milestone in the restoration of the cathedral's former glory. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 Another rooster stood atop the spire previously; the bird is considered an emblem of France. Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 The spire burned and crashed down, punching giant, jagged holes into the vaults and sending gobs of molten metal and charred beams plummeting below. Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2023 Notre Dame’s spire has seen several chapters in its roughly 800-year history. Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 At the clay cliffs, eroded spires rise from the landscape. Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 The six spires of the Salt Lake Temple give it an attenuated look. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024 Con is about people doing things together, and spire comes from the same word for breathing, for hope — the root of inspiration. Timothy P. Carney, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English spīr; akin to Middle Dutch spier blade of grass

Noun (2)

Latin spira coil, from Greek speira; perhaps akin to Greek sparton rope, esparto

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spire was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near spire

Cite this Entry

“Spire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spire. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spire

noun
ˈspī(ə)r
1
: a blade or stalk (as of grass) that gradually becomes thinner and narrower near the top
2
: a sharp pointed tip (as of a tree or antler)
3
a
: a pointed roof especially of a tower
b
spired
ˈspī(ə)rd
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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