pyramid en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpɪɹ.ə.mɪd/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (California) audio
- /ˈpɪɹ.ə.məd/ Australia, New Zealand, weak vowel merger
Etymology
From French pyramide, from Old French piramide, from Latin pȳramis, pȳramidis, from Ancient Greek πῡραμίς (pūramís), possibly from πῡρός (pūrós, “wheat”) + ἀμάω (amáō, “reap”) or from Egyptian pr-m-ws (“height of a pyramid”), from pr (“(one that) comes forth”) + m (“from”) + ws (“height”). Schenkel and K. Lang proposed hypothetical Coptic *ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲙ (*piram) or *ⲫⲣⲁⲙ (*phram) derived from Egyptian mr via metathesis as a source of πῡραμίς (pūramís) while Schenkel also suggested it being the source of Arabic هَرَم (haram) although the latter is considered far-fetched by Takacs.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) An ancient massive construction with a square or rectangular base and four triangular sides meeting in an apex, such as those built as tombs in Egypt or as bases for temples in Mesoamerica.
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(countable, uncountable) A construction in the shape of a pyramid, usually with a square or rectangular base.
[T]he owners of Doddington Hall, in Lincolnshire, have brought the folly into the 21st century, by building a 30ft pyramid in the grounds of the Elizabethan manor.
2014 September 7, “Doddington's garden pyramid is a folly good show: The owners of a Lincolnshire stately home have brought the folly into the 21st century, by building a 30ft pyramid [print edition: Great pyramid of Lincolnshire, 6 September 2014, p. G2]”, in The Daily Telegraph, London:
- (countable, uncountable) A solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal (often square or rectangular) base.
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(broadly, countable, uncountable) Any structure or diagram with many members at the bottom and progressively fewer towards the top.
A telephone pyramid is now being formed to fill this need. Once a representative group of community people decide a crisis exists […] a list of people will be called, who in turn will call a small number of others from a list already in their possession. This process continues untill as much of the community as possible has been notified. The numbers will be kept in strict confidence, with no one other than the organizers having the entire list. Individual callers will only have a few names and numbers.
1973 August 18, “Gay [drawing of a pyramid (sense 1)]”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 9, page 1:The company was organized as a pyramid, with a CEO in charge of four directors, each heading up a department.
They sit looking at the empty plate that had held a pyramid of sesame cakes. They have eaten them all.
1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 63:From there he headed down the leagues, but his love of the game trumped any pride about where he 'ought' to be playing as he racked up more than 1,000 games across the full length of the English pyramid.
(Can we date this quote?), Flora Snelson, “Cureton, 50, scores in 10th tier to 'complete football'”, in BBC:
- (countable, uncountable) A medullary pyramid, the medial-most bumps on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata
- (UK, countable, dated, uncountable) The game of pool in which the balls are placed in the form of a triangle at spot.
- (countable, uncountable) A pyramid scheme.
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(alt-of, uncountable) Alternative letter-case form of Pyramid. (a solitaire card game)
alt of Pyramid
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(countable, uncountable) The triangular layout of cards in the game of Pyramid.
Build your pyramid with all cards face down, except the cards in the bottom row.
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(countable, uncountable) An approximately triangular headline consisting of several centered lines of text of increasing length.
[…] with a cross-line banner, a set of two-column pyramids beneath it in the middle, and on each side of these exactly the same thing,—something between a headline and a story—"$50,000 Reward for—" etc.
1924, Helen Ogden Mahin, The Development and Significance of the Newspaper Headline:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pyramids | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| piramis | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| pyramis | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
earth pyramid · Laplacian pyramid · pyramid elimia · stepped pyramid · oblique pyramid · Pyramid Lake · pyramidal · pyramidic · pyramid hip roof · hemipyramid · pyramidwise · pyramidoid · bipyramid · renal pyramid · pyramid selling · pyramid piano · Pyramid Hill · pyramidization · pyramid scheme · food pyramid · pyramidism · population pyramid · Freytag's pyramid · pyramidist · pyramidiot · pyramid pool · human pyramid · pyramidology · pyramidical · pyramid billiards · pyramid of doom · pyramid roof · steerable pyramid · pyramid sight · pyramidize · pyramidologist · beeramid · pyramidlike · Gaussian pyramid · Russian pyramid · inverted pyramid · step pyramid · triangular pyramid · pyramid down · nanopyramid · pyramid inch · square pyramid · ecological pyramid · hyperpyramid · macropyramid · dipyramid · pyramid seller · demipyramid
Relateds
Translations (200)
hu piramis (ancient construction) · az firontəpəsi (ancient construction) · fr pyramide (construction) · tk piramida (ancient construction) · nb pyramide (ancient construction) · ext pirami (ancient construction) · la pyramis (ancient construction) · sk ihlan (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · sw piramidi (construction) · hi पीरामिड (ancient construction) · nl piramide (construction) · cs jehlan (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · fa-ira هِرَم (construction) · ar هَرَم (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · sv pyramid (construction) · tg ҳирам (ancient construction) · nah tzacualli (ancient construction) · sl piramida (ancient construction) · ja 角錐 (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · sh piramída (construction) · id limas (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · nl piramide (ancient construction) · be пірамі́да (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · kmr herem (ancient construction) · sh пирами́да (ancient construction) · sw piramidi (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · hu piramis (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · sv pyramid (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · fa-ira هِرَم (ancient construction) · fi pyramidi (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ky пирамида (ancient construction) · mt piramida (ancient construction) · mr मनोरा (ancient construction) · cmn 金字塔 (construction) · es pirámide (construction) · yi פּיראַמיד (ancient construction) · fa-ira پیرامید (ancient construction) · tr piramit (construction) · vo piramid (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · pl ostrosłup (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · uz piramida (ancient construction) · ar هَرَم (ancient construction) · ca piràmide (construction) · eo piramido (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · tg пирамида (ancient construction) · ru пирами́да (ancient construction) · de Pyramide (ancient construction) · nn pyramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · gl pirámide (ancient construction) · is pýramídi (ancient construction) · sw piramidi (ancient construction) · id piramid (ancient construction) · sh пирами́да (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · hu gúla (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ms piramid (ancient construction) · az ehram (ancient construction) · ckb ھەرەم (ancient construction) · yua kʼu (ancient construction) · da pyramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · sd اهرام (ancient construction) · arz هرم (ancient construction) · tg аҳром (ancient construction) · bg пирами́да (ancient construction) · bn পিরামিড (ancient construction) · ar أَهْرَام (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · vi kim tự tháp (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · pt pirâmide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · lt piramidė (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · eu piramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · fi pyramidi (ancient construction) · tl tagilo (ancient construction) · lv piramīda (ancient construction) · pt pirâmide (ancient construction) · az piramida (ancient construction) · mn пирамид (ancient construction) · my ပိရမစ် (ancient construction) · ur ہَرَم (ancient construction) · cmn 角錐 /角锥 (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · he פִּירָמִידָה (construction) · tr piramit (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · de Pyramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · it piramide (ancient construction) · el πυραμίδα (ancient construction) · sl piramida (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · da pyramide (construction) · ja ピラミッド (ancient construction) · ga pirimid (ancient construction) · nb pyramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ga pirimid (construction) · he פִּירָמִידָה (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · id piramida (ancient construction) · be пірамі́да (ancient construction) · lv piramīda (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · pl piramida (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · mk пирамида (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · el πυραμίδα (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · bg пирами́да (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · hy բուրգ (ancient construction) · hi अहराम (ancient construction) · fa-ira سَنْبوسِه (ancient construction) · ast pirámide (ancient construction) · sv pyramid (ancient construction) · et püramiid (ancient construction) · ru пирами́да (construction) · fa-ira اَهْرام (ancient construction) · vo piramid (construction) · kmr ehram (ancient construction) · lt piramidė (ancient construction) · ur اَہْرام (ancient construction) · grc πυραμίς (ancient construction) · ko 금자탑 (ancient construction) · eu piramide (ancient construction) · ca piràmide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · es pirámide (ancient construction) · ka პირამიდა (ancient construction) · ko 피라미드 (ancient construction) · th พีระมิด (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ar هَرَم (construction) · fr pyramide (ancient construction) · az piramida (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · it piramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · gl pirámide (construction) · fi pyramidi (construction) · sw haram (ancient construction) · sq piramidë (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · it piramide (construction) · km ពីរ៉ាមីត (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ur پِرْمِڈ (ancient construction) · tr ehram (ancient construction) · ext pirami (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · fr pyramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · nl viervlak (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ast pirámide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · eo piramido (construction) · ro piramidă (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · mr मनोरा (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · kk пирамида (ancient construction) · fi särmäkartio (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · grc πυραμίς (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ro piramidă (ancient construction) · egy U23-m:r-O24 (ancient construction) · nl piramide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · cmn 金字塔 (ancient construction) · sh пирами́да (construction) · es pirámide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · uk пірамі́да (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ja 金字塔 (ancient construction) · mr मनोरा (construction) · th พีระมิด (ancient construction) · ps هرم (ancient construction) · mg rirakitso (ancient construction) · si පිරමිඩ (ancient construction) · et püramiid (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · hi पिरमिड (ancient construction) · sh piramída (ancient construction) · af piramide (ancient construction) · mk пирами́да (ancient construction) · tk ährem (ancient construction) · tl tagilo (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · hu piramis (construction) · eo piramido (ancient construction) · pl piramida (ancient construction) · hy բուրգ (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · gl pirámide (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · pt pirâmide (construction) · ca piràmide (ancient construction) · ext pirami (construction) · cs pyramida (construction) · hi पिरैमिड (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · he פִּירָמִידָה (ancient construction) · sh piramída (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · kmr pîramîd (ancient construction) · ur پِرامِڈ (ancient construction) · uz ehrom (ancient construction) · kk пирамида (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ast pirámide (construction) · ug ئېھرام (ancient construction) · sk pyramída (ancient construction) · tl tagilo (construction) · uk пірамі́да (ancient construction) · mi koeke-tapawhā (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · fa-ira هِرَم (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · nn pyramide (ancient construction) · pnb ہَرَم (ancient construction) · cs pyramida (ancient construction) · ug پىرامىدا (ancient construction) · mn овооллого (ancient construction) · vo piramid (ancient construction) · da pyramide (ancient construction) · sq piramidë (ancient construction) · hi पिरामिड (ancient construction) · el πυραμίδα (construction) · tr piramit (ancient construction) · vi kim tự tháp (ancient construction) · ms piramid (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · hy բուրգ (construction) · sa सूचि (ancient construction) · or ପିରାମିଡ଼ (ancient construction) · ko 각뿔 (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base) · ru пирами́да (in geometry, a solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal base)