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lyra

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lyra¹

Where it comes from

So called from the arrangement of the lines with which it is marked in the human brain.

noun

  1. dated The middle portion of the ventral surface of the fornix of the brain. The vessels of the brain generally are often distended and gorged with blood, the lyra especially being fully injected.

lyra²

noun lyras

  1. A vertically suspended hoop used in acrobatic performances.

lyra³

Where it comes from

From Ancient Greek λῠ́ρᾱ (lŭ́rā) or Modern Greek λύρα (lýra). Doublet of lira, Lyra, and lyre.

noun lyras · lira

  1. A bowed string musical instrument used in the Byzantine Empire. A Persian scholar of the early tenth century, lbn Khurradadhbih, reported the lyra to be in widespread use throughout the empire, along with organs and bagpipes.
  2. A bowed instrument used in folk music in Crete, Greece. According to the Greek musicologist Fivos Anoyanakis, the piriform lyras of Crete have, at various times throughout history, been produced in different sizes and styles.

Lyra⁴

  • /ˈlaɪ.ɹə/
  • /ˈlɪ(ə)ɹ.ə/ rare

Rhymes with -aɪɹə, -ɪəɹə

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Latin Lyra/lyra, from Ancient Greek λύρα (lúra, “a lyre; the constellation Lyra”). Doublet of lira, lyra, and lyre.

proper noun

  1. A summer constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a lyre. It includes the bright star Vega and the Ring Nebula.
  2. A female given name from Ancient Greek. A little parapet ran all the way around the square roof, and Pantalaimon often draped his pine-marten form over the mock-battlements on the corner facing south, and dozed while Lyra sat below with her back against the sun-drenched stone, studying the books she'd brought up with her.

Translations

Every language

name constellation

EspañolLyra
한국어거문고자리 Geomun'gojari
FrançaisLyre
DeutschLeier
ΕλληνικάΛύρα Lýra
РусскийЛи́ра Líra

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MLA

"lyra." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/lyra. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

lyra. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/lyra

Chicago

"lyra." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/lyra.

BibTeX
@misc{lyra_2026,
  title = {lyra},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/lyra},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}