noun
lyre
LY-ur/ˈlaɪər/
A harp-like musical instrument with strings stretched between a crossbar and a soundbox.
The wooden lyre has strings stretched between its crossbar and soundbox.
Etymology
Greek lyra named the harp-like instrument, which later became a symbol of lyric poetry. The Greek word itself was a foreign borrowing of uncertain origin.
In context
Ancient writers claimed emperor Nero callously played his lyre
More examples
- She tunes each string of the lyre before playing.
- The museum displays two ancient lyres beside a clay flute.
- A wooden crossbar holds the upper ends of the lyre's strings.
Forms
lyre · lyres