pyramid
/ˈpɪɹ.ə.mɪd/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.75 in modern English
Meaning
noun
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.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A construction in the shape of a pyramid, usually with a square or rectangular base.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal (often square or rectangular) base.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Any structure or diagram with many members at the bottom and progressively fewer towards the top.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A medullary pyramid, the medial-most bumps on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "[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."
- "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."
- "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."
- "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."
- "Build your pyramid with all cards face down, except the cards in the bottom row."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɪɹ.ə.mɪd/
- British English: /ˈpɪɹ.ə.mɪd/