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noun C2 Proficient

pyre

PY
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Pyre (noun) means a pile of wood built for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony. Example: “The mourners lit the funeral pyre at sunset.”

noun
1
A pile of wood built for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.
"The mourners lit the funeral pyre at sunset."

How to use pyre

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stack of wood built to burn a body during a funeral rite.

Common pairings
funeral pyre light the pyre
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Word forms

Plural
pyres
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The mourners lit the funeral _____ at sunset.

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Greek pura, related to pur ("fire") — a doublet of the everyday word "fire."

Origin: Greek

funeral pyre

Rhymes for pyre

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Frequently asked questions

What does “pyre” mean?
The word “pyre” means a pile of wood built for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony. In plain terms, a stack of wood built to burn a body during a funeral rite.
How do you pronounce “pyre”?
“Pyre” is pronounced PY (/ˈpaɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pyre” in a sentence?
Here is “pyre” used in a sentence: “The mourners lit the funeral pyre at sunset.”
What part of speech is “pyre”?
“Pyre” is a noun.
Where does the word “pyre” come from?
The word “pyre” comes from Greek. A learned borrowing from Greek pura, related to pur ("fire") — a doublet of the everyday word "fire.".

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