pyramid

Main Entry:: ¹pyr·a·mid
Pronunciation:: \ˈpir-ə-ˌmid\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Latin pyramid-, pyramis, from Greek
Date:: 1549

1 a: an ancient massive structure found especially in Egypt having typically a square ground plan, outside walls in the form of four triangles that meet in a point at the top, and inner sepulchral chambers b: a structure or object of similar form2: a polyhedron having for its base a polygon and for faces triangles with a common vertex — see volume table3: a crystalline form each face of which intersects the vertical axis and either two lateral axes or in the tetragonal system one lateral axis4: an anatomical structure resembling a pyramid: as a: any of the conical masses that project from the renal medulla into the kidney pelvis b: either of two large bundles of motor fibers from the cerebral cortex that reach the medulla oblongata and are continuous with the pyramidal tracts of the spinal cord 5: an immaterial structure built on a broad supporting base and narrowing gradually to an apex <the socioeconomic pyramid>

— py·ra·mi·dal

\pə-ˈra-mə-d^əl, ˌpir-ə-ˈmi-\ adjective

— py·ra·mi·dal·ly adverb

— pyr·a·mid·i·cal

\ˌpir-ə-ˈmi-di-kəl\ adjective

[pyramid illustration]

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