# steeple

/ˈstipəɫ/ (US) · /stˈiːpəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. church tower

noun · CEFR B2

a tall tower on a church, usually with a pointed top called a spire.

For teachers: a tall tower on a church or similar building, typically topped with a spire.

- The white church steeple was visible from miles away across the flat fields.
- The village skyline was dominated by the medieval church steeple, which had been painstakingly restored after the storm damage of the previous winter.

### 3. historical headdress

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a very tall, pointed hat worn by women in the 1300s.

For teachers: a high, conical headdress worn by women in the 14th century.

- In the old painting, the queen wears a tall steeple decorated with silk.
- The costume designer researched 14th-century fashion to accurately recreate the velvet steeple worn by the noblewomen in the play.

## Examples

- The church's steeple was visible from the road.
- The architect designed a slender steeple to ensure the church would be the tallest building in the village.
- As the sun began to set, the shadow of the cathedral's steeple stretched across the square, marking the transition from afternoon to evening for the local residents.

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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.