Illustration of pyramid
- pyramid 2
pyr·a·mid
ˈpir-ə-ˌmid 
1
a
: an ancient massive structure found especially in Egypt having typically a square ground plan, outside walls in the form of four triangles that meet in a point at the top, and inner sepulchral chambers
b
: a structure or object of similar form
2
: a polyhedron having for its base a polygon and for faces triangles with a common vertex see Volume Formulas Table
3
: a crystalline form each face of which intersects the vertical axis and either two lateral axes or in the tetragonal system one lateral axis
4
: an anatomical structure resembling a pyramid: such as
a
: any of the conical masses that project from the renal medulla into the renal pelvis
b
: either of two large bundles of motor fibers from the cerebral cortex that reach the medulla oblongata and are continuous with the pyramidal tracts of the spinal cord
5
: an immaterial structure built on a broad supporting base and narrowing gradually to an apex
the socioeconomic pyramid
pyramidally
adverb
pyramided; pyramiding; pyramids
1
: to speculate (as on a security or commodity exchange) by using paper profits as margin for additional transactions
2
: to increase rapidly and progressively step by step on a broad base
1
: to arrange or build up as if on the base of a pyramid
2
: to use (something, such as profits) in speculative pyramiding
3
: to increase the impact of (something, such as a tax assessed at the production level) on the ultimate consumer by treating as a cost subject to markup
Examples of pyramid in a Sentence
Noun
the ancient pyramids of Egypt
Recent Examples on the Web
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
That is where the first layer of the compliance pyramid is formed—through moral responsibility.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Climb ancient Maya pyramid Kinich Kak Moo for views of the main square and surrounding jungle, then wander through the Franciscan convent, which was built atop a pre-Hispanic temple.
—Meagan Drillinger, AFAR Media, 28 Mar. 2025
In the pyramid, the team exposed the seals to different air mixes: ambient air, high and low levels of oxygen and high levels of CO2.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pyramid
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Noun
Logan and his younger brother, Jake Paul—himself a YouTuber and influencer, who has also turned to boxing—have been famous for more than a decade now, and reality television, Logan explains to Agdal, would be the apex of the pyramid that the siblings have been scaling.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
That is where the first layer of the compliance pyramid is formed—through moral responsibility.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Climb ancient Maya pyramid Kinich Kak Moo for views of the main square and surrounding jungle, then wander through the Franciscan convent, which was built atop a pre-Hispanic temple.
—Meagan Drillinger, AFAR Media, 28 Mar. 2025
In the pyramid, the team exposed the seals to different air mixes: ambient air, high and low levels of oxygen and high levels of CO2.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pyramid
Cite this Entry
“Pyramid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyramid. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pyramid
1 of 2 noun
pyr·a·mid
ˈpir-ə-ˌmid
1
: a massive structure built especially in ancient Egypt that usually has a square base and four triangular sides meeting at a point
2
: something that resembles a pyramid in shape or organization
the social pyramid
3
: a polyhedron that has a polygon for its base and triangles that meet at a point at the top for its sides
pyramid
2 of 2 verb
: to build up in the form of a pyramid
Medical Definition
pyramid
noun
pyr·a·mid
ˈpir-ə-ˌmid
1
: a polyhedron having for its base a polygon and for faces triangles with a common vertex
2
: an anatomical structure resembling a pyramid: as
a
b
: either of two large bundles of motor fibers from the cerebral cortex that reach the medulla oblongata and are continuous with the corticospinal tracts of the spinal cord
c
: a conical projection making up the central part of the inferior vermis of the cerebellum
Legal Definition
pyramid
1 of 3 noun
pyr·a·mid
ˈpir-ə-ˌmid
1
: a group of holding companies superimposed on one another to give those in control of the top holding company control over all of the companies with a small investment
2
: the series of operations involved in pyramiding on an exchange
3
: a pyramid scheme
pyramid
2 of 3 intransitive verb
: to speculate (as on a security or commodity exchange) by using paper profits as a margin for additional transactions
1
: to use (as profits) in speculative pyramiding
2
: to increase the impact of (as a tax assessed at the production level) on the ultimate consumer by treating as a cost subject to markup
pyramid
3 of 3 adjective
: of, relating to, or being an illegal scheme in which participants give money or other valuables in exchange for the opportunity to receive payment for recruiting others to participate in the scheme
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