pyramid
pyramid Lexical Profile
pyramid Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top, especially one built of stone as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.
"Tourists from all over the world travel to Giza to see the Great Pyramid."
A polyhedron having a polygonal base and triangular faces that meet at a common vertex.
"In geometry class, the students calculated the volume of a square-based pyramid."
A hierarchical organizational structure or financial scheme in which a small number of people at the top profit from a progressively larger number of people at the bottom.
"The company collapsed after regulators exposed its business model as an illegal pyramid."
• verb
To use profits or margin from existing financial positions to buy more of the same asset, progressively increasing market exposure.
"The ambitious trader pyramided his successful positions, compounding his returns significantly during the bull market."
To heap, stack, or build up objects into the shape of a pyramid.
"The grocer skillfully pyramided the oranges to create an attractive display in the window."
Word Nuance & Usage
In financial contexts, the word frequently carries a highly negative connotation as it typically refers to fraudulent or unsustainable business models (e.g., a 'pyramid scheme').
• Rhymes for pyramid
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'piramis', borrowed via Latin 'pyramis' from Greek 'pyramis', which is likely derived from an Egyptian word for the structures.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.