GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Spire , v. i. [L. spirare to breathe. See Spirit.] To breathe. [Obs.]
   Shenstone.
   
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2.       
   Spire, n. [OE. spire, spir, a blade of grass, a young shoot, AS. spīr; akin to G. spier a blade of grass, Dan. spire a sprout, sprig, Sw. spira a spar, Icel. spīra.]
   A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat.
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   An oak cometh up a little spire.
   Chaucer.
   
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   A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically (Arch.), the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high in proportion to its width; also, the pyramidal or aspiring termination of a tower which can not be said to have a roof, such as that of Strasburg cathedral; the tapering part of a steeple, or the steeple itself. “With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned.”
   Milton.
   
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   A spire of land that stand apart,
   Cleft from the main.
   Tennyson.
   
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   Tall spire from which the sound of cheerful bells
   Just undulates upon the listening ear.
   Cowper.
   
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   (Mining) A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.
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   The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit.
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   The spire and top of praises.
   Shak.
   
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3.       
   Spire, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spired ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiring.] To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire.
   Emerson.
   
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   It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms.
   Mortimer.
   
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4.       
   Spire, n. [L. spira coil, twist; akin to Gr. : cf. F. spire.]
    A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist.
   Dryden.
   
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   (Geom.) The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See Spiral, n.
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   Spire bearer. (Paleon.) Same as Spirifer.
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