# pyramid

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɪ.ɹə.mɪd/ · frequency rank #10,428

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. A construction in the shape of a pyramid, usually with a square or rectangular base.
3. A solid with triangular lateral faces and a polygonal (often square or rectangular) base.
4. Any structure or diagram with many members at the bottom and progressively fewer towards the top.
5. A medullary pyramid, the medial-most bumps on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata
6. The game of pool in which the balls are placed in the form of a triangle at spot.
7. A pyramid scheme.
8. Alternative letter-case form of Pyramid. (a solitaire card game)
9. The triangular layout of cards in the game of Pyramid.
10. An approximately triangular headline consisting of several centered lines of text of increasing length.

## Etymology
From French pyramide, from Old French piramide, from Latin pȳramis, pȳramidis, from Ancient Greek πῡραμίς (pūramís), possibly from πῡρός (pūrós, “wheat”) + ἀμάω (amáō, “reap”) or from Egyptian pr-m-ws (“height of a pyramid”), from pr (“(one that) comes forth”) + m (“from”) + ws (“height”). Schenkel and K. Lang proposed hypothetical Coptic *ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲙ (*piram) or *ⲫⲣⲁⲙ (*phram) derived from Egyptian mr via metathesis as a source of πῡραμίς (pūramís) while Schenkel also suggested it being the source of Arabic هَرَم (haram) although the latter is considered far-fetched by Takacs.

## Easily confused with
- **pyramidal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pyramid-vs-pyramidal)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ppyramid`, `pryamid`, `pyarmid`, `pyraimd`, `pyramdi`, `pyramidd`, `pyrammid`, `pyrmaid`, `pyrramid`, `pyyramid`, `ypramid`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pyramid