# lyre

/ˈɫaɪɹ/ (US) · /lˈaɪə/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lyre
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a small stringed instrument shaped like a U, with strings you pluck with your fingers. People in ancient Greece played it to accompany songs and poems.

For teachers: a small U-shaped stringed instrument with strings stretched across a wooden frame, played by plucking. Closely associated with ancient Greek and Roman music, poetry, and myth.

## Examples

- She learns to play the lyre in music class.
- The museum displays an ancient lyre with tortoise-shell body and strings restored for visitors.
- Carved on the marble frieze, Apollo holds a lyre whose curved arms seem to echo the harmony celebrated in classical verse.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.