pyramid

Meanings

Noun

• An ancient massive construction with a square or rectangular base and four triangular sides meeting in an apex, such as those built as tombs in Egypt or as bases for temples in Mesoamerica.
• A construction in the shape of a pyramid, usually with a square or rectangular base.
• A solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal (often square or rectangular) base.
• A medullary pyramid, the medial-most bumps on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata
• The game of pool in which the balls are placed in the form of a triangle at spot.
• A pyramid scheme.
• Alternate spelling of Pyramid.
• The triangular layout of cards in the game of Pyramid.
• An approximately triangular headline consisting of several centered lines of text of increasing length.

Verb

• To build up or be arranged in the form of a pyramid.
• To combine (a series of genes) into a single genotype.
• To employ, or take part in, a pyramid scheme.
• To engage in pyramid trading.

Origin

• From French pyramide, from Old French piramide, from Latin pyramis, from Ancient Greek πῡραμίς, possibly from πῡρός + ἀμάω or from Egyptian pr-m-ws ("height of a pyramid"), from prj + m + ws. Schenkel and K. Lang proposed hypothetical Coptic ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲙ or ⲫⲣⲁⲙ derived from Egyptian mr via metathesis as a source of πῡραμίς while Schenkel also suggested it being the source of Arabic هرم although the latter is considered far-fetched by Takacs.