pyramid
pyramid definition
pyra·mid (pir′ə mid)
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
Etymology: 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 py·ram′i·dal (pi ram′i dəl) adjective
- pyramidally py·ram′i·dally adverb
- pyramidic pyr′a·mid′ic adjective or pyramidical pyr′a·mid′i·cal
pyramid Idioms
the (Great) Pyramids
the three large pyramids at Gîza, Egypt: the largest is the Pyramid of Khufu
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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