from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lyre \Lyre\, n. [OE. lire, OF. lyre, L. lyra, Gr. ?. Cf.
{Lyra}.]
1. (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music; a kind of harp much
used by the ancients, as an accompaniment to poetry.
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Note: The lyre was the peculiar instrument of Apollo, the
tutelary god of music and poetry. It gave name to the
species of verse called lyric, to which it originally
furnished an accompaniment.
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2. (Astron.) One of the constellations; Lyra. See {Lyra}.
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{Lyre bat} (Zool.), a small bat ({Megaderma lyra}),
inhabiting India and Ceylon. It is remarkable for the
enormous size and curious shape of the nose membrane and
ears.
{Lyre turtle} (Zool.), the leatherback.
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