pyre

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noun \ ˈpī(-ə)r \

Definition of pyre

:a combustible heap for burning a dead body as a funeral rite; broadly :a pile of material to be burned

a pyre of dead leaves

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Recent Examples of pyre from the Web

Two teams of three appear on opposite ends of an arena, defending a goal, which is represented by a burning pyre.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Pyre review: A brilliant reinvention of the term “fantasy sports”," 25 July 2017
On a Tuesday afternoon in Hyderabad, the body of Srinivas Kuchibhotla was placed on a pyre of logs.

— audra d.s. burch, The Seattle Times, "Slain immigrant’s widow puts spotlight on hate crimes," 8 July 2017
This kind of widowhood wasn’t that different from throwing herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.

— terry hong, The Christian Science Monitor, "'The Windfall' adroitly probes questions of money and true worth," 26 June 2017
One crew hauled stretchers filled with corpses up the ramp, and another crew pushed the bodies onto the pyre.

— matthew shaer, Smithsonian, "The Holocaust’s Great Escape," 2 May 2017
Because of her sacrifice, one of the poles supporting the pyre grew into a tree with mystical powers.

— chiara goia, Smithsonian, "The Biggest Tree Canopy on the Planet Stretches Across Nearly Five Acres," 2 May 2017
The weaker men maintained the pyres that smoldered through the night, filling the air with the heavy smell of burning flesh.

— matthew shaer, Smithsonian, "The Holocaust’s Great Escape," 2 May 2017
In a tradition dating back at least 200 years, a snowman figure called the Böögg is hoisted aloft a pyre in the square and set afire.

— susan steade, The Mercury News, "Burning of the Böögg: Groundhog Day meets Mr. Bill," 24 Apr. 2017
With the funeral pyres of the House Republicans’ recent failure to repeal Obamacare still smoking, President Trump and his cohorts will now try to wage the first major revision of the tax code in more than three decades.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "We Asked Five Accountants About Doing Taxes In the Trump Age," 10 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pyre.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pyre

Latin pyra, from Greek, from pyr fire — more at fire

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First Known Use: 1587

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PYRE Defined for English Language Learners

pyre

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noun

Definition of pyre for English Language Learners

: a pile of wood for burning a dead body

PYRE Defined for Kids

pyre

play

noun \ ˈpīr \

Definition of pyre for Students

:a heap of wood for burning a dead body

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See words that rhyme with pyre Spanish Central: Translation of pyre Nglish: Translation of pyre for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pyre for Arabic speakers

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pyre

Definition of pyre

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Origin and Etymology of pyre

PYRE Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of pyre for English Language Learners

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pyre

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