steeple

steepleSteeple on Townshend United Church of Christ, Townshend, Vermont, U.S.

steeple, tall ornamental tower, sometimes a belfry, usually attached to an ecclesiastical or public building. The steeple is usually composed of a series of diminishing stories and is topped by a spire, cupola, or pyramid (qq.v.), although in ordinary usage the term steeple denotes the entire structure.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title: steeple
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 09 February 2011
Access Date: April 20, 2025