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to spire

to spire

1 6.0
To rise up into a tall, narrow, pointed shape
  • verb
  • /spaɪr/
: elevarse
  • I would add that the church spires in both canvases break the picture frame, emphasizing their role as a link between matter and spirit, the spirit here being that of the Celtic race.
  • spired church
  • spired temple
  • twin-spired

Examples

  • The trees spire upward, their branches reaching for the sky.

  • The mist continues to rise, burning itself invisible as it spires in the returning heat.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • As the rocket launched, it spired into the atmosphere with great speed.

  • The tall buildings spired against the sunset, creating a breathtaking skyline.

Synonyms

to tower
vsto spire
72 4.6

To be much taller than nearby things and look more important

is narrow and has a pointed top rather than just being taller

How Tall

to tower
72 4.6
to spire
1 6.0
to soar
96 3.4
to grow
∞ 1.0
to rise
718 1.0

Surface Forms

spire infinitive
spired past
spired past participle
spiring present participle
spires third person singular

Etymology

Spire meaning 'to rise upward in a tall, narrow point' is linked to the noun spire and the idea of a 'sprout' growing up into a point. So when something 'spires' it 'shoots up' like a plant or tower, which explains the modern sense of rising high and thin.