# spire

/ˈspaɪɹ/ (US) · /spˈaɪə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spire
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. architecture

noun · CEFR B2

a tall, pointed tower on the roof of a building, usually a church.

For teachers: a tall, acutely tapering pyramidal or conical structure built on a tower or roof, particularly as a feature of Gothic architecture.

- The church spire could be seen from miles away across the flat countryside.
- The cathedral's slender stone spire dominated the skyline, serving as a landmark for travellers approaching the city from the north.

### 2. a sharp point

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the top part of something that ends in a sharp point.

For teachers: the uppermost point or summit of something, especially when tapering to a sharp point.

- The mountain spire was hidden behind a thick layer of grey clouds.
- The jagged rock spires of the mountain range presented a formidable challenge to even the most experienced climbers.

### 3. a spiral

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Literary

a shape that winds around a central point, like a coil.

For teachers: a spiral or a single turn of a spiral; one of the sinuous coils of a serpent.

- The shell had a beautiful spire that twisted perfectly to a point.
- The biologist noted the distinct number of spires on the snail's shell, which helped identify the specific subspecies.

### 4. mining fuse

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a tube used to carry fire to an explosive charge.

For teachers: a tube or fuse used for communicating fire to the charge in blasting operations.

- The miners carefully set the spire before moving to a safe distance.
- In historical mining practices, the spire was a critical component for ensuring the controlled detonation of the rock face.

### 5. to grow upwards

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to grow tall and thin rather than spreading out.

For teachers: to sprout or grow upwards in a tapering fashion; to germinate and send forth shoots.

- The young plants began to spire toward the sunlight in the greenhouse.
- As spring arrived, the wheat began to spire, its green shoots reaching upward with remarkable speed after the heavy rains.

## Examples

- The church spire is visible from miles away.
- The architect designed a slender gold spire to crown the new cathedral, making it the tallest point in the city skyline.
- Restoration of the medieval spire required specialized stonemasons who could navigate the narrow scaffolding while preserving the intricate carvings that had weathered centuries of wind and rain.

---

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.