lyre

[ lahyuhr ]

noun

1. a musical instrument of ancient Greece consisting of a soundbox made typically from a turtle shell, with two curved arms connected by a yoke from which strings are stretched to the body, used especially to accompany singing and recitation.
2. Lyre, Astronomy. the constellation Lyra.

lyre

/ laɪə /

noun

1. an ancient Greek stringed instrument consisting of a resonating tortoise shell to which a crossbar was attached by two projecting arms. It was plucked with a plectrum and used for accompanying songs
2. any ancient instrument of similar design
3. a medieval bowed instrument of the violin family

Word History and Origins

Origin of lyre¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English lire, from Latin lyra, from Greek lýra

Word History and Origins

Origin of lyre¹

C13: via Old French from Latin lyra, from Greek lura

Example Sentences

These pieces show Christov-Bakargiev wearing her Apollo hat and strumming the lyre too loudly.

From The Daily Beast

We might conclude that the only thing of beauty that remains of him is the shape of his lyre in the stars.

From The Daily Beast

Only head and lyre remained intact, floating down the River Hebrus from Thrace to the sea.

From The Daily Beast

The fountain is a type of the living waters, and the lyre, of the influence of the Divine Orpheus.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes an Orpheus, to whose lyre the sheep seem to listen with pleased attention, takes the place of the Good Shepherd.

From Project Gutenberg

The poet's lyre has not many strings, and the strains of sadness, of pensive melancholy, are almost absent.

From Project Gutenberg

There remain then the lyre and the cithara for use in our city; and for shepherds in the country a syrinx (pan's pipes).'

From Project Gutenberg

The scale of a lyre was usually the standard octave from Hypat to Nt: and that octave might be in any one key.

From Project Gutenberg