spire 1
— 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. a tapering, pointed part of something; a tall, sharp-pointed summit, peak, or the like: the distant spires of the mountains.
4. the highest point or summit of something: the spire of a hill; the spire of one's profession.
5. a sprout or shoot of a plant, as an acrospire of grain or a blade or spear of grass.
v.i.
6. to shoot or rise into spirelike form; rise or extend to a height in the manner of a spire.
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE spir spike, blade; c. MD spier, MLG spir shoot, sprout, sprig, ON spira stalk ]
spire 2
— spireless , adj.
/spuyeur/ , n.
1. a coil or spiral.
2. one of the series of convolutions of a coil or spiral.
3. Zool. the upper, convoluted part of a spiral shell, above the aperture.
[ 1565-75; spira speîra; see SPIRAL ]