A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass.
What’s the meaning of spires?
: a slender tapering blade or stalk (as of grass) : the upper tapering part of something (such as a tree or antler) : pinnacle. 3. : a tapering roof or analogous pyramidal construction surmounting a tower. : steeple.
What are spires used for?
As a functional element, skyscraper spires act as lightning rods and broadcast antennas, but as an architectural element, they are often used to increase the apparent height of buildings to perhaps assuage the vanity of building developers and architects.
What is the meaning of church spires?
countable noun. The spire of a building such as a church is the tall pointed structure on the top.
What is the origin of the word spire?
The root of spire is the Old English spir, “sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass.” Definitions of spire. a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top. synonyms: steeple.
What is the synonym of spire?
belfry. nountower; part of tower. bell tower. campanile. carillon.
How do you use spire in a sentence?
Examples of ‘spire’ in a sentence
- It is interesting to look closely at one of the tall spires.
- Make use of your local church spire.
- The building is capped by a spire topped with a golden crescent.
- Last month there were large clusters of it with spires of pink blossom.
Who created spires?
In 1965, less than 20 years after immigrating from Greece to America, John Haretakis founded Spires Restaurants. Ever since then, Spires Restaurants has been part of the history of Southern California. His vision was simple: make good food easy to find.
What are the Spires on houses called?
Cupolas were originally designed to add natural light and ventilation to the area under a roof. They sit on the ridge of a roof and can be found in many shapes, including square, round, and octagonal.
Why don t all churches have spires?
Question: Why do fewer churches in the countryside have spires compared to churches near cities? Answer: Square church towers used to have wooden spires on top of them. In rural areas these would become damaged or fall down and they were never repaired whereas a stone or a flint tower would survive for longer.
Why do churches have tall spires?
The shape and design is also said to have been created to naturally attract attention and draw the eyes heavenward, encouraging a sense of spirituality and religious contemplation. The steeple also makes the structure stand out from surrounding buildings.
Why do churches have steeples and spires?
The use of spires, steeples and towers on Christian church buildings became a common element around the eighth century. Steeples symbolically pointed to heaven. Early towers in churches were also symbolic that the prayers of church members would ascend to heaven.
Which churches have spires?
Towers and Spires
- St. Michael and All Angels, Mitcheldean. Towers and spires.
- St Mary the Virgin, Tetbury. Towers and spires.
- St Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church, Cheltenham. Towers and spires.
- St Mary, Upleadon. Towers and spires.
- St James, Chipping Campden. Towers and spires.
- Frenchay Unitarian Chapel. Towers and spires.
What is meant by dreaming spires?
In the poem, “Thyrsis”, Victorian poet Matthew Arnold described the beauty of university buildings in the 18th century. He mentioned Oxford as ‘the city of dreaming spires’ because of the amazing architecture. Cherwell and Thames run through the city of Oxford.
What is the opposite of spire?
We have listed all the opposite words for spire alphabetically. base. abject. abominable. cheap.
What part of speech is spire?
verb (used without object), spired, spir·ing. to shoot or rise into spirelike form; rise or extend to a height in the manner of a spire.
What is another name for peaks?
Some common synonyms of peak are acme, apex, climax, culmination, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean “the highest point attained or attainable,” peak suggests the highest among other high points.
Is spyre a word?
Noun. Obsolete form of spire.
Is Spiring a word?
adjective Shooting up in a spire or spires.
How do you use firebrand in a sentence?
He used to be a famous left-wing firebrand. He was good enough to refer to me as a firebrand. He does it consistently and with his firebrand tactics. He was also somewhat of a firebrand and almost immediately sought the direct confrontation with his opposite number.
Which city has the most spires?
The city of Prague
The city of Prague is normally called “The golden city of one hundred spires,” but often it is called “The golden city of five hundred spires” and “The golden city of one thousand spires.” Prague is called this because of its beautiful cathedrals and their pointy spires.