SPIRE
What does "SPIRE" mean?
A tall, tapering structure rising from a tower or roof, especially on a church.
Meanings
- A pointed, conical or pyramidal structure topping a tower, typically on a church. The cathedral's spire was visible from across the valley.
- Any tapering point that rises high, such as a mountain peak or treetop. Dark spires of fir lined the ridge at dusk. figurative
- A single coil or whorl of a spiral, as on a snail shell. The shell's spire wound to a delicate point. technical
Did you know?
- The tallest church spire on Earth belongs to Ulm Minster in Germany - it climbs about 161.5 metres, and visitors can hike 768 steps to a viewing gallery near the top.
Word origin
From Old English 'spir' (a stalk, sprout, or blade of grass); the architectural sense developed from the image of a slender shoot tapering upward.
Remember it
SPIRE shares its letters with 'aspire' minus the 'a' - both reach upward toward something higher.
A little poem
Stone learned a single, patient trick:
to taper, narrow, point, and prick
the low grey sky until it's quick.
tercet
Wordplay
- Why did the architect keep designing taller steeples? He had no choice - he just couldn't help but aspire.
What it teaches
A spire is widest at the base; the higher you mean to reach, the broader your footing must be.
Quick facts
What does SPIRE mean?
A tall, tapering structure rising from a tower or roof, especially on a church.
Is SPIRE a valid word?
Yes — SPIRE is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SPIRE?
SPIRE has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does SPIRE come from?
From Old English 'spir' (a stalk, sprout, or blade of grass); the architectural sense developed from the image of a slender shoot tapering upward.
What can SPIRE teach us?
A spire is widest at the base; the higher you mean to reach, the broader your footing must be.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.