Pyramid

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɪɹəmɪd/

Definitions

1. A geometric shape featuring a base that is a polygon and triangular surfaces converging at a vertex, also representing a system with various levels of rank or importance
2. A solid or two-dimensional figure characterized by a polygonal base and triangular sides culminating in a peak, often symbolizing a tiered structure with differing levels or hierarchies
3. A three-dimensional figure having a polygon as its base and triangular faces that meet at a single point ; an organizational model arranged in layers where higher levels have more authority or significance

Etymology: The Greek word "pyramis" was the name for a pastry-like cake of wheat and honey, and it was only later applied to the monumental Egyptian tombs. Greek writers gave it that name for the shape of those cakes, which may be a clue that the familiar form was already in the Greek mind before the stone monuments were described. The Greek word is usually linked either to "pūrós," meaning wheat, combined with "amáō," meaning to reap, or to an Egyptian phrase, "pr-m-ws," meaning "height of a pyramid." Neither origin is certain, and scholars still debate which is correct. The Egyptian derivation is the one that would tie the word directly to the monuments themselves. From Greek the word passed into Latin as "pȳramis," then into Old French as "piramide," and finally into English via French "pyramide." The English form keeps the Greek "y" spelling, a reminder of its route through Greek and Latin rather than a direct spoken borrowing.

Synonyms: triangle, monument