pyramid
1 synonyms and 0 antonyms for pyramid, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A large structure with a square base and four triangular sides meeting at a point, especially the ancient Egyptian tombs.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use pyramid
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Greek pūramís, possibly linked to a word for wheat cake, or possibly from an ancient Egyptian phrase meaning "height of a pyramid."
Full origin of pyramid →Frequently asked questions
What does “pyramid” mean?
The word “pyramid” means a large structure with a square base and four triangular sides meeting at a point, especially the ancient Egyptian tombs. In plain terms, a four-sided pointed structure, most famously the ancient Egyptian monuments, or a dishonest investment scheme built the same shape.
How do you pronounce “pyramid”?
“Pyramid” is pronounced PIHR-uh-mihd (/ˈpɪɹ.ə.mɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “pyramid” in a sentence?
Here is “pyramid” used in a sentence: “They visited the Great Pyramid of Giza on their trip to Egypt.”
What part of speech is “pyramid”?
Depending on how it is used, “pyramid” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pyramid” come from?
The word “pyramid” comes from Greek. From Greek pūramís, possibly linked to a word for wheat cake, or possibly from an ancient Egyptian phrase meaning "height of a pyramid.".
Is “pyramid” a common word?
“Pyramid” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pyramid” have?
“Pyramid” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large structure with a square base and four triangular sides meeting at a point, especially the ancient Egyptian tombs.
What is the difference between a pyramid and a pyramid scheme?
A pyramid, in its literal sense, is a large structure with a square base and triangular sides meeting at a point, like the ancient Egyptian tombs. A pyramid scheme is unrelated to architecture and instead describes a fraudulent business model where early investors are paid using money from new recruits rather than genuine profit.
Why is a fraudulent business model called a pyramid scheme?
It is called a pyramid scheme because the structure of recruitment resembles a pyramid shape, with a small number of people at the top and an ever-widening base of new recruits below. Money flows upward from new participants to earlier ones, rather than coming from real sales or profit.
How is "pyramid" used as a verb?
As a verb, "pyramid" means to build up or arrange something into a pyramid-like shape or structure, with a wide base narrowing toward a point. It can describe stacking physical objects or organizing something in a tiered, escalating way.