lyra
lyra Lexical Profile
lyra Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere representing the lyre of Orpheus, containing Vega, one of the brightest stars in the night sky (usually capitalized as 'Lyra').
"Through the telescope, the astronomer pointed out the Ring Nebula located within the constellation Lyra."
A pear-shaped bowed stringed musical instrument traditionally played in Greece, particularly in the folk music of Crete and the Dodecanese islands.
"The Cretan musician rested the base of the three-stringed lyra on his knee and began a lively traditional melody."
A glockenspiel mounted on a lyre-shaped metal frame, carried upright and played by percussionists in marching bands.
"Marching at the front of the parade, the percussionist struck the bright aluminum bars of the lyra with a mallet."
• Rhymes for lyra
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin lyra, which comes from Ancient Greek lýra ('lyre'), naming both the classical stringed instrument and the constellation associated in Greek mythology with the lyre of Orpheus.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.