Definition of "pyramid"

pyramid

/ˈpɪɹəmɪd/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural pyramids
1. 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.
2. A construction in the shape of a pyramid, usually with a square or rectangular base.
  Quotations
  [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.
  2014 September 7, “Doddington's garden pyramid is a folly good show: The owners of a Lincolnshire stately home have brought the folly into the 21st century, by building a 30ft pyramid ”, in The Daily Telegraph‎, London
3. (geometry) A solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal (often square or rectangular) base.
4. (by extension) Any structure or diagram with many members at the bottom and progressively fewer towards the top.
  Quotations
  They sit looking at the empty plate that had held a pyramid of sesame cakes. They have eaten them all.
  1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 63
5. (neuroanatomy) A medullary pyramid, the medial-most bumps on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata
6. (UK, dated) The game of pool in which the balls are placed in the form of a triangle at spot.
7. A pyramid scheme.
8. (card games, uncountable) Alternative letter-case form of Pyramid. (a solitaire card game)
9. (card games) The triangular layout of cards in the game of Pyramid.
10. (journalism) An approximately triangular headline consisting of several centered lines of text of increasing length.
  Quotations
  […] with a cross-line banner, a set of two-column pyramids beneath it in the middle, and on each side of these exactly the same thing,—something between a headline and a story—"$50,000 Reward for—" etc.
  1924, Helen Ogden Mahin, The Development and Significance of the Newspaper Headline
verb
third-person singular simple present pyramids, present participle pyramiding, simple past and past participle pyramided
1. To build up or be arranged in the form of a pyramid.
  Quotations
  The paint was stacked in neatly pyramided lots along the concrete floor.
  1952, Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man, Penguin Books (2014), page 198
  Once there was an enormous jukebox; the then-Harlettes (her three-woman back-up vocalists/dancers/mimes) pyramided to drop a huge coin, and around the bend of the big record would spin the diva.
  1983 April 9, Walta Borawski, “Midler in Boston”, in Gay Community News, page 12
2. (transitive, genetics) To combine (a series of genes) into a single genotype.
3. (intransitive) To employ, or take part in, a pyramid scheme.
4. (finance) To engage in pyramid trading.
  Quotations
  Multiply this by the number of shares you traded, and add other positions if you pyramided.
  2002, Alexander Elder, Come Into My Trading Room: A Complete Guide to Trading, page 152
5. (dated) To increase to or towards a peak.

Definition of "pyramid"

pyramid

noun

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verb

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