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Webster 1913 Edition

Spire

Spire

,
Verb.
I.
[L.
spirare
to breathe. See
Spirit
.]
To breathe.
[Obs.]
Shenstone.

Spire

,
Noun.
[OE.
spire
,
spir
, a blade of grass, a young shoot, AS.
spīr
; akin to G.
spier
a blade of grass, Dan.
spire
a sprout, sprig, Sw.
spira
a spar, Icel.
spīra
.]
1.
A slender stalk or blade in vegetation;
as, a
spire
grass or of wheat
.
An oak cometh up a little
spire
.
Chaucer.
2.
A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically
(Arch.)
, the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high in proportion to its width; also, the pyramidal or aspiring termination of a tower which can not be said to have a roof, such as that of Strasburg cathedral; the tapering part of a steeple, or the steeple itself.
“With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned.”
Milton.
A
spire
of land that stand apart,
Cleft from the main.
Tennyson.
Tall
spire
from which the sound of cheerful bells
Just undulates upon the listening ear.
Cowper.
3.
(Mining)
A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.
4.
The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit.
The
spire
and top of praises.
Shakespeare

Spire

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Spired
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Spiring
.]
To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire.
Emerson.
It is not so apt to
spire
up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms.
Mortimer.

Spire

,
Noun.
[L.
spira
coil, twist; akin to Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK]: cf. F.
spire
.]
1.
A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist.
Dryden.
2.
(Geom.)
The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See
Spiral
,
Noun.
Spire bearer
.
(Paleon.)
Same as
Spirifer
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Spire

SPIRE

,
Noun.
[L. spira; from the root of L. spiro, to breathe. The primary sense of the root is to throw, to drive, to send, but it implies a winding motion, like throw, warp, and many others.]
1.
A winding line like the threads of a screw; any thing wreathed or contorted; a curl; a twist; a wreath. His neck erect amidst his circling spires. A dragon's fiery form belied the god; sublime on radiant spires he rode.
2.
A body that shoots up to a point; a tapering body; a round pyramid or pyramidical body; a steeple. With glist'ring spires and pinnacles adorn'd.
3.
A stalk or blade of grass or other plant. How humble ought man to be, who cannot make a single spire or grass.
4.
The top or uppermost point of a thing.

SPIRE

, v.i.
1.
To shoot; to shoot up pyramidically.
2.
To breathe. [Not in use.]
3.
To sprout, as grain in malting.

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