spire

¹

[ spahyuhr ]

noun

1. a tall, acutely pointed pyramidal roof or rooflike construction upon a tower, roof, etc.
2. a similar construction forming the upper part of a steeple.
3. a tapering, pointed part of something; a tall, sharp-pointed summit, peak, or the like:

   the distant spires of the mountains.

4. the highest point or summit of something:

   the spire of a hill;

   the spire of one's profession.

5. a sprout or shoot of a plant, as an acrospire of grain or a blade or spear of grass.

verb (used without object)

, spired, spir·ing.

1. to shoot or rise into spirelike form; rise or extend to a height in the manner of a spire.

spire

²

[ spahyuhr ]

noun

1. a coil or spiral.
2. one of the series of convolutions of a coil or spiral.
3. Zoology. the upper, convoluted part of a spiral shell, above the aperture.

spire

¹

/ spaɪə /

noun

1. Also calledsteeple 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

1. intr to assume the shape of a spire; point up
2. tr to furnish with a spire or spires

spire

²

/ spaɪə; spaɪəˈrɪfərəs /

noun

1. any of the coils or turns in a spiral structure
2. the apical part of a spiral shell

Derived Forms

• ˈspiry, adjective
• spiriferous, adjective

Other Words From

• spireless adjective
• un·spiring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spire¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English spir(e), Old English spīr “spike (of grain), blade (of grass)”; cognate with Middle Dutch spier, Middle Low German spīr “shoot, sprout, sprig,” Old Norse spīra “stalk”

Origin of spire²

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin spīra, from Greek speîra; spiral

Word History and Origins

Origin of spire¹

Old English spīr blade; related to Old Norse spīra stalk, Middle Low German spīr shoot, Latin spīna thorn

Origin of spire²

C16: from Latin spīra a coil, from Greek speira

Example Sentences

Paterson was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham and practised in the independent sector at Spire Parkway in Solihull and Spire Little Aston near Sutton Coldfield.

From BBC

He also practised privately at Parkway hospitals in Solihull and Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield, both run by Bupa until 2007 and afterwards by Spire.

From BBC

Katie Gallop, counsel representing Spire Healthcare, asked Mr Ströhle if anybody else had been present when "cleavage-sparing reconstruction" was discussed.

From BBC

He also practised privately at Parkway hospitals in Solihull and Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield, both run by Bupa until 2007 and afterwards by Spire.

From BBC

President Putin denied any involvement and the two accused men appeared on Russian TV, where they insisted they had visited Salisbury as tourists who wanted to see the cathedral spire.

From BBC

Related Words

• steeple