pyramid

[ pir-uh-mid ]

noun

1. Architecture.
   1. (in ancient Egypt) a quadrilateral masonry mass having smooth, steeply sloping sides meeting at an apex, used as a tomb.
   2. (in ancient Egypt and pre-Columbian Central America) a quadrilateral masonry mass, stepped and sharply sloping, used as a tomb or a platform for a temple.
2. anything of such form.
3. a number of persons or things arranged or heaped up in this manner:

   a pyramid of acrobats; a pyramid of boxes.

4. a system or structure resembling a pyramid, as in hierarchical form.
5. Geometry. a solid having a polygonal base, and triangular sides that meet in a point.
6. Crystallography. any form the planes of which intersect all three of the axes.
7. Anatomy, Zoology. any of various parts or structures of pyramidal form.
8. pyramid scheme ( def ).
9. a tree pruned or trained to grow in conical form.
10. pyramids, (used with a singular verb) British. a form of pocket billiards for two or four players in which 15 colored balls, initially placed in the form of a triangle, are pocketed with one white cue ball.

verb (used without object)

1. to take, or become disposed in, the form of a pyramid.
2. Stock Exchange. (in speculating on margin) to enlarge one's operations in a series of transactions, as on a continued rise or decline in price, by using profits in transactions not yet closed, and consequently not yet in hand, as margin for additional buying or selling in the next transaction.
3. to increase gradually, as with the completion of each phase:

   Our problems are beginning to pyramid.

verb (used with object)

1. to arrange in the form of a pyramid.
2. to raise or increase (costs, wages, etc.) by adding amounts gradually.
3. to cause to increase at a steady and progressive rate:

   New overseas markets have pyramided the company's profits.

4. Stock Exchange. (in speculating on margin) to operate in, or employ in, pyramiding.

pyramid

/ pɪˈræmɪdəl; ˈpɪrəmɪd /

noun

1. a huge masonry construction that has a square base and, as in the case of the ancient Egyptian royal tombs, four sloping triangular sides
2. an object, formation, or structure resembling such a construction
3. maths a solid having a polygonal base and triangular sides that meet in a common vertex
4. crystallog a crystal form in which three planes intersect all three axes of the crystal
5. anatomy any pointed or cone-shaped bodily structure or part
6. finance a group of enterprises containing a series of holding companies structured so that the top holding company controls the entire group with a relatively small proportion of the total capital invested
7. the series of transactions involved in pyramiding securities
8. plural a game similar to billiards with fifteen coloured balls

verb

1. to build up or be arranged in the form of a pyramid
2. to speculate in (securities or property) by increasing purchases on additional margin or collateral derived from paper profits associated with high prices of securities and property in a boom
3. finance to form (companies) into a pyramid

Derived Forms

• pyramidal, adjective
• pyˈramidally, adverb

Other Words From

• pyr·a·mid·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyramid¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin pȳramid- (stem of pȳramis ), from Greek pȳramís; replacing Middle English pyramis, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyramid¹

C16 (earlier pyramis ): from Latin pyramis, from Greek puramis, probably from Egyptian

Example Sentences

They also are recreating ancient techniques themselves — from rolling pyramid rocks to testing out ancient tar recipes.

From Science News For Students

Societies can prepare for inversion of the population pyramid if they consider the different scenarios, but it will require long term planning.

From Nautilus

While those with higher incomes can afford to save more, “we can’t say the same about people who are at the bottom of the pyramid, which is a major chunk,” he says.

From Ozy

ROMY is an upside-down pyramid of pipes, about the length of a telephone pole on each side.

From Science News

The word “mummy” conjures images of gold-coated, bandage-wrapped bodies, hidden away in pyramids.

From Science News For Students

As the pyramid grew, the teen struggled to manage his responsibilities at home, in school and with his sham company.

From The Daily Beast

For 27 years, the 105 floors of Ryugyong Hotel, a monstrous three-winged, glass-and-concrete pyramid, have gone unused.

From The Daily Beast

“This pyramid monster hotel will monopolize all the business in the city,” CEO Reto Wittwer said.

From The Daily Beast

Musto covered the scene at the tiny Pyramid club on Avenue A, where RuPaul, Debbie Harry and Madonna performed and hung out.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, a pyramid constructed from Germany army helmets in New York City in 1918.

From The Daily Beast

MacRae stacked the dry wood in a neat pyramid twelve inches from the bare soles of Hicks' feet.

From Project Gutenberg

By this time Jacques had filled his tray, had folded up the shining white table-cloth and placed it over his pyramid of plates.

From Project Gutenberg

The half-breed helped Helen dismount and told her to go to his tent, a small, pyramid affair at one end of the glade.

From Project Gutenberg

As it was, there would be time to send the toll-money to Pyramid Harbor and take all proper precautions.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly above the breakwater appeared a black pyramid, growing bigger every moment; then another, then many.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• edifice
• memorial
• monolith
• shrine
• tomb