/spaɪər/
尖塔;塔尖。通常指教堂或建筑物顶部逐渐变细、直指天空的锥形结构。也可引申为任何尖耸的顶端。
The church spire rose above the village rooftops.
教堂的尖塔高耸于村庄的屋顶之上。
As we drove through the countryside, the distant spires of the ancient cathedral served as our guide, their sharp silhouettes cutting through the morning mist.
当我们驱车穿过乡间时,远处古老大教堂的尖塔成了我们的路标,它们锋利的轮廓穿透了晨雾。
源自古英语 spir,意为"茎、芽、草叶",与日耳曼语系中表示"尖锐"的词根相关。中古英语时期逐渐演变为特指建筑物上的尖顶结构,尤其是教堂的塔尖。其核心含义始终围绕"向上尖耸"这一意象。