noun
lyra
LEYE-ruh
Lyra (noun) means a hoop suspended from above, used by aerial acrobats to perform holds, spins, and drops. Example: “The circus performer wrapped one leg through the lyra and spun slowly toward the floor.”
noun
1
A hoop suspended from above, used by aerial acrobats to perform holds, spins, and drops.
"The circus performer wrapped one leg through the lyra and spun slowly toward the floor."
"Aerial yoga studios sometimes use a lyra instead of silks for beginners."
2
A pear-shaped bowed string instrument played upright on the knee, found in Byzantine, Cretan, and other Eastern Mediterranean folk music.
"The musician balanced the lyra on his knee and drew the bow across its three strings."
"A Cretan wedding band usually features a lyra alongside a lute."
3
(astronomy, capitalized) A small northern constellation said to look like a lyre, containing the bright star Vega.
"On a clear summer night you can pick out Lyra almost overhead."
"Vega, the brightest star in Lyra, is part of the Summer Triangle."
How to use lyra
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly either the aerial hoop apparatus circus performers use, or the star constellation shaped roughly like an ancient lyre.
Common pairings
aerial lyra
the constellation Lyra
a lyra player
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Word forms
- Plural
- lyras
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The circus performer wrapped one leg through the _____ and spun slowly toward the floor.
Etymology
From Latin lyra, "a lyre" — the same word behind the musical instrument lyre and, in anatomy, a brain structure whose crisscrossing fibres reminded early anatomists of lyre strings.
Rhymes for lyra
See all rhymes for lyra →Frequently asked questions
What does “lyra” mean?
The word “lyra” means a hoop suspended from above, used by aerial acrobats to perform holds, spins, and drops. In plain terms, most commonly either the aerial hoop apparatus circus performers use, or the star constellation shaped roughly like an ancient lyre.
How do you pronounce “lyra”?
“Lyra” is pronounced LEYE-ruh (/ˈlaɪ.ɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “lyra” in a sentence?
Here is “lyra” used in a sentence: “The circus performer wrapped one leg through the lyra and spun slowly toward the floor.”
What part of speech is “lyra”?
“Lyra” is a noun.
Where does the word “lyra” come from?
The word “lyra” comes from Latin. From Latin lyra, "a lyre" — the same word behind the musical instrument lyre and, in anatomy, a brain structure whose crisscrossing fibres reminded early anatomists of lyre strings.
How many meanings does “lyra” have?
“Lyra” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hoop suspended from above, used by aerial acrobats to perform holds, spins, and drops.
