spire-grass

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• Spire — Spire, n. [OE. spire, spir, a blade of grass, a young shoot, AS. sp[=i]r; akin to G. spier a blade of grass, Dan. spire a sprout, sprig, Sw. spira a spar, Icel. sp[=i]ra.] 1. A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• spire — noun a) A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat. b) A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically (Architecture), the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high… …   Wiktionary

• spire — spire1 [spīr] n. [Fr < L spira < Gr speira < IE base * sper , to turn, wrap > Latvian sprangāt, to lace up] 1. a spiral or coil 2. any of the convolutions of a spiral or coil 3. Zool. the upper part of a spiral shell of a gastropod… …   English World dictionary

• spire — O.E. spir sprout, shoot, stalk of grass, from P.Gmc. *spiraz (Cf. O.N. spira a stalk, slender tree, M.L.G. spir a small point or top ), from PIE *spei sharp point (see SPIKE (Cf. spike) (n.1)). Meaning tapering top of a tower or steeple first rec …   Etymology dictionary

• spire — spire1 spireless, adj. /spuyeur/, n., v., spired, spiring. n. 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. See illus. under steeple. 3.… …   Universalium

• spire´like´ — spire1 «spyr», noun, verb, spired, spir|ing. –n. 1. a) the top part of a tower or steeple that narrows to a point: »The steeple, which has a spire to it, is placed in the middle of the church (Laurence Sterne) …   Useful english dictionary

• spire — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English spīr; akin to Middle Dutch spier blade of grass Date: before 12th century 1. a slender tapering blade or stalk (as of grass) 2. the upper tapering part of something (as a tree or antler) ;… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• spire — I. /ˈspaɪə / (say spuyuh) noun 1. a tall, tapering structure, generally an elongated, upright cone or pyramid, erected on a tower, roof, etc. 2. such a structure forming the upper part of the steeple, or the whole steeple. 3. a tapering, pointed… …  

• spire — spaɪə(r) n. narrow tapering structure on the top of a building, steeple; natural structure which tapers to a point (i.e. blade of grass) v. furnish with a spire; taper to a point …   English contemporary dictionary

• Chicago Spire — Artist s impression of the Chicago Spire. General information Type Residential[1] …   Wikipedia