pyramid
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to pyramid: pyramid scheme, Pyramid power
pyr·a·mid
(pĭr′ə-mĭd)n.
1.
a. A solid figure with a polygonal base and triangular faces that meet at a common point.
b. Something shaped like this polyhedron.
2.
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.
3. The transactions involved in pyramiding stock.
4. Anatomy A structure or part suggestive of a pyramid in shape.
v. pyr·a·mid·ed, pyr·a·mid·ing, pyr·a·mids
v.tr.
1. To place or build in the shape of a pyramid.
2. To build (an argument or thesis, for example) progressively from a basic general premise.
3. 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.
v.intr.
1. To assume the shape of a pyramid.
2. To increase rapidly and on a widening base.
3. To pyramid stocks.
[Latin pȳramis, pȳramid-, from Greek pūramis, of unknown origin.]
py·ram′i·dal (pĭ-răm′ĭ-dl), pyr′a·mid′ic (-mĭd′ĭk), pyr′a·mid′i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.
py·ram′i·dal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pyramid
(ˈpɪrəmɪd)n
1. (Architecture) a huge masonry construction that has a square base and, as in the case of the ancient Egyptian royal tombs, four sloping triangular sides
2. an object, formation, or structure resembling such a construction
3. (Mathematics) maths a solid having a polygonal base and triangular sides that meet in a common vertex
4. (Chemistry) crystallog a crystal form in which three planes intersect all three axes of the crystal
5. (Anatomy) anatomy any pointed or cone-shaped bodily structure or part
6. (Banking & Finance) finance a group of enterprises containing a series of holding companies structured so that the top holding company controls the entire group with a relatively small proportion of the total capital invested
7. (Stock Exchange) chiefly US the series of transactions involved in pyramiding securities
8. (Billiards & Snooker) (plural) a game similar to billiards with fifteen coloured balls
vb
Also called (rare): pyramis 9. to build up or be arranged in the form of a pyramid
10. (Stock Exchange) chiefly US to speculate in (securities or property) by increasing purchases on additional margin or collateral derived from paper profits associated with high prices of securities and property in a boom
11. (Banking & Finance) finance to form (companies) into a pyramid
[C16 (earlier pyramis): from Latin pyramis, from Greek puramis, probably from Egyptian]
pyramidal, ˌpyraˈmidical, ˌpyraˈmidic adj
pyˈramidally, ˌpyraˈmidically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pyr•a•mid
(ˈpɪr ə mɪd)n.
1. a massive quadrilateral masonry structure having smooth, steeply sloping sides meeting at an apex, as a tomb built in ancient Egypt, or stepped and sharply sloping sides, as a temple platform built in pre-Columbian Central America.
2. any object or arrangement of objects shaped like a pyramid.
3. a system or structure resembling a pyramid, as in hierarchical form.
4. a solid having a polygonal base, and triangular sides that meet in a point.
5. any crystalline form the planes of which intersect all three of the axes.
6. any of various anatomical parts or structures of pyramidal form.
7. the series of transactions involved in pyramiding.
v.i. 8. to take, or become disposed in, the form of a pyramid.
9. to speculate in securities trading by using paper profits as margin for additional buying and selling.
10. to increase gradually, as with the completion of each phase.
v.t. 11. to arrange in the form of a pyramid.
12. to raise or increase (costs, wages, etc.) by adding amounts gradually.
13. to cause to increase at a steady and progressive rate.
14. to employ in speculative pyramiding.
[1590–1600; < Latin pȳramid-, s. of pȳramis < Greek pȳramís; replacing earlier, Middle English pyramis < Latin, as above]
py•ram′i•dal (-ˈræm ɪ dl) pyr`a•mid′ic, pyr`a•mid′i•cal, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Pyramid
any material thing or group of objects in the shape of a pyramid.Examples: pyramid of ambition, 1826; of white blossom, 1886; of bones, 1756; of books; of fame, 1670; of flame, 1651; of inference, 1882; of lawbooks, 1727; of men, 1831; of power, 1628.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
pyramid
Past participle: pyramided
Gerund: pyramiding
| Imperative |
|---|
| pyramid |
| pyramid |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
pyramid
A massive ancient Egyptian building erected over or containing a tomb, with four triangular sides tapering to a point at the top.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  pyramid - a polyhedron having a polygonal base and triangular sides with a common vertexpolyhedron - a solid figure bounded by plane polygons or faces |
| 2. | pyramid - (stock market) a series of transactions in which the speculator increases his holdings by using the rising market value of those holdings as margin for further purchases securities market, stock exchange, stock market - an exchange where security trading is conducted by professional stockbrokers venture, speculation - an investment that is very risky but could yield great profits; "he knew the stock was a speculation when he bought it" | |
| 3. |  Pyramid - a massive monument with a square base and four triangular sides; begun by Cheops around 2700 BC as royal tombs in ancient EgyptSeven Wonders of the Ancient World, Seven Wonders of the World - impressive monuments created in the ancient world that were regarded with awe | |
| Verb | 1. | pyramid - enlarge one's holdings on an exchange on a continued rise by using paper profits as margin to buy additional amounts investing, investment - the act of investing; laying out money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit |
| 2. | pyramid - use or deal in (as of stock or commercial transaction) in a pyramid deal crime, criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking, offense, offence - (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes" | |
| 3. | pyramid - arrange or build up as if on the base of a pyramid | |
| 4. | pyramid - increase rapidly and progressively step by step on a broad base increase - become bigger or greater in amount; "The amount of work increased" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
شَكْل هَرَميهرمهَرَمهَرَم من أهرامات مِصْر الفرْعونيه
pyramidajehlan
pyramide
pyramidi
piramida
piramisgúla
pÿramídi
ピラミッド
피라미드
pyramis
piramidė
piramīda
piramidaostrosłup
pyramída
piramida
pyramid
ปิรามิด
kim tự tháp
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
pyramid
[ˈpɪrəmɪd] n (= monument, building) → pyramide f
(GEOMETRY) → pyramide f
(= pile) [objects] → pyramide f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
pyramid
n → Pyramide f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
pyramid
(ˈpirəmid) noun1. a solid shape usually with a square or triangular base, and sloping triangular sides meeting in a point.
2. an ancient tomb built in this shape in Egypt.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
pyramid
→ هَرَم jehlan pyramide Pyramide πυραμίδα pirámide pyramidi pyramide piramida piramide ピラミッド 피라미드 piramide pyramide piramida pirâmide пирамида pyramid ปิรามิด piramit kim tự tháp 金字塔Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
pyr·a·mid
n. pirámide, estructura semejante a un cono, tal como la médula oblongata.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012