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pyramid

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The definition of a pyramid is a structure with a square base and four sloping triangular sides that meet at one point, or a financial strategy where additional rewards are earned based on previously-earned rewards.

(noun)

An example of a pyramid is the figure on the back left side of the U.S. one dollar bill.
An example of a pyramid is a company building their sales force by having current sales people earn a portion of the earnings of those they recruit.

See pyramid in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any huge structure with a square base and four sloping, triangular sides meeting at the top, as those built by the ancient Egyptians for royal tombs
an object, formation, structure, or organization shaped like or suggesting a pyramid
a crystal form in which as many as 12 sloping faces intersect at a point
Geom. a solid figure having a polygonal base, the sides of which form the bases of triangular surfaces meeting at a common vertex

Origin: L pyramis (gen. pyramidis) < Gr, pyramid: replaced ME piramis, also < L

intransitive verb, transitive verb

to build up, mass, or heap in the form of a pyramid
☆ to engage in (a series of buying or selling operations) during an upward or downward trend in the stock market, working on margin with the profits made in the transactions

Related Forms:

pyramidal adjective
pyramidally adverb
pyramidic adjective or pyramidical

See pyramid in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A solid figure with a polygonal base and triangular faces that meet at a common point.
b. Something shaped like this polyhedron.
a. A massive monument of ancient Egypt having a rectangular base and four triangular faces culminating in a single apex, built over or around a crypt or tomb.
b. Any of various similar constructions, especially a four-sided Mesoamerican temple having stepped sides and a flat top surmounted by chambers.
The transactions involved in pyramiding stock.
Anatomy A structure or part suggestive of a pyramid in shape.

verb pyr·a·mid·ed, pyr·a·mid·ing, pyr·a·mids

verb, transitive

To place or build in the shape of a pyramid.
To build (an argument or thesis, for example) progressively from a basic general premise.
To speculate in (stock) by making a series of buying and selling transactions in which paper profits are used as margin for buying more stock.

verb, intransitive