spire

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈspī(-ə)r 

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

• 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

In Copenhagen, cyclists glide past copper spires and canals lined with houseboats, while the scent of warm cinnamon pastries curls from morning bakeries. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Little wonder that conspiracy theories, centered on government and the high spires of business and finance, flower so easily in this era’s soil. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 July 2025

Verb

On April 15, a fire broke out in the attic and spread across the roof and spire before firefighters were alerted. —Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 21 May 2025

Both crosses were removed from the cathedral’s steeple and spire in 1998 for building renovations. —Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024

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

Rhymes for spire

• dire
• ire
• lyre
• mire
• quire
• squire
• admire
• afire
• aspire
• backfire
• esquire
• expire

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

: steeple

spired

ˈspī(ə)rd

adjective