01 v. i. To breathe.
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1.
To breathe.[Obs.]
Entry
8 senses · 4 variants
Webster, 1913
Spire
/spīʹər/
· IPA /ˈspaɪ.ɚ/
02 n. A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat.
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1.
A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat.“An oak cometh up a little spire.” — Chaucer.
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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.(Arch.)“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.
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3.
A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.(Mining)
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4.
The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit.“The spire and top of praises.” — Shak.
03 v. i. To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire.
imp. & p. p.
Spired; p. pr. & vb. n.
Spiring
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1.
To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire.“It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms.” — Mortimer.