Illustration of lyre
- lyre 1
1
: a stringed instrument of the harp class having an approximately U-shaped frame and used by the ancient Greeks especially to accompany song and recitation (see recitation sense 2)
2
: a small clip typically resembling a lyre that is used for holding sheet music and attaches to a musical instrument (such as a trombone)
3
Lyre
: lyra
Examples of lyre in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the corner of three-time Academy Award–winning composer Ludwig Göransson’s studio sits a lyre nearly the size of a grown man, one room over from a ping-pong table that, at the push of a button, disappears into the floor.
—
Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
Kids ages 5-12 can handle replica artifacts, such as an abacus, armor and lyre, and learn how professional archeologists make inferences.
—Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Add a miniature harp or lyre to complete the vision.
—Ella Cerón, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025
So imagine the scandal when the emperor himself, the ruler of the known world, climbed onto a stage with a lyre in his hands, singing, reciting, performing for hours.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lyre
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Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
Kids ages 5-12 can handle replica artifacts, such as an abacus, armor and lyre, and learn how professional archeologists make inferences.
—Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Add a miniature harp or lyre to complete the vision.
—Ella Cerón, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025
So imagine the scandal when the emperor himself, the ruler of the known world, climbed onto a stage with a lyre in his hands, singing, reciting, performing for hours.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lyre
Cite this Entry
“Lyre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lyre. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lyre
noun
: a small harp held in the hands for playing
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