A spire is a tall, pointed structure that rises from the top of a building, usually a church or cathedral. Picture a tower that starts wide at its base and narrows as it climbs upward, ending in a sharp point that seems to reach toward the sky. Medieval architects designed spires to lift people's eyes and thoughts heavenward, creating buildings that dominated their towns' skylines.

The world's tallest church spire belongs to Ulm Minster in Germany, soaring 530 feet into the air. Many famous buildings feature distinctive spires: the Chrysler Building in New York City has a gleaming Art Deco spire, while the Empire State Building's spire was originally designed as a mooring mast for airships (though that plan never worked out).

The word can also describe anything tall and pointed that tapers to a tip. Mountain peaks sometimes rise in rocky spires. A grove of evergreen trees might feature dozens of dark green spires pointing skyward. When describing natural formations, spire suggests something sharp, dramatic, and striking rather than rounded or gentle.