Steeple
/ˈstiːpəl/
nounB1
Definition
A steeple is a tall, narrow, and pointed part that rises above the roof of a building, especially on churches or old buildings. It is usually made of wood, stone, or metal and can sometimes have a bell inside.
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See It in Action
The pointed structure on top of a church or building
- •The church’s steeple could be seen from far away.
- •Birds often build nests near the top of the steeple.
- •The old town has a tall steeple that is a famous landmark.
(Less common) Any tall, pointed structure on a building
- •The castle had a stone steeple rising above the walls.
- •The city hall’s steeple was decorated with flags.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "steeple" like "tower" (A1 word), but much narrower and pointed at the top.
- ✓Picture a church with a very tall, thin roof that ends in a sharp point reaching toward the sky.
- ✓It feels like looking up at something that touches the clouds, making you feel small or amazed.
- ✓Sounds like "steeple" → imagine a "steep" mountain peak, sharp and high, just like the pointed top of the building.
- ✓In stories or movies, steeples often appear on churches where important events happen, like weddings or town meetings.
- ✓NOT like "tower" (which can be wide and flat on top), a steeple always ends in a point.
- ✓NOT like "chimney" (which lets out smoke), a steeple is decorative and symbolic.
- ✓NOT like "spire" (a similar word), but steeple often includes the whole structure on top, sometimes with a bell; spire is just the pointed part.
Try Other Words
- •Spire: the pointed top part of a building (Use when focusing only on the sharp tip, not the whole structure)
- •Tower: a tall building or part of a building (Use when the structure is larger or not pointed)
- •Spirelet: a small spire or steeple (Use when the pointed structure is small)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "steeple" does not break into smaller parts clearly; it is a whole word.
- •Etymology: From Old English "stēpel," meaning a high tower or church tower.
- •Historical development: Used since early Middle Ages to describe tall church towers with pointed tops.
- •Modern usage: Still used mainly to describe church towers or similar pointed structures on buildings.
- •Interesting fact: Steeples often hold bells and serve as a visual symbol of a church reaching toward the sky.
Reflect & Connect
•How does a steeple change the look and feeling of a building compared to one without it?
•Why do you think many churches have steeples instead of flat roofs?
Fill in the blanks
1.The steeple is usually found ___ the main part of a church building, rising ___ above the roof.
2.People can see the steeple from ___ distances because it is very ___.
3.Unlike a chimney, a steeple is mainly ___ and does not let out ___.
4.The church bell often hangs inside the ___ of the steeple.
5.A steeple is different from a tower because it is usually ___ and ends in a ___ point.
6.When birds build nests on the steeple, it shows the structure is ___ and high.
7.If a building has a flat roof, it does not have a ___ like a church often does.