lira

[leer-uh; Italian lee-rah] /ˈlɪər ə; Italian ˈli rɑ/
noun, plural lire
[leer-ey; Italian lee-re] /ˈlɪər eɪ; Italian ˈli rɛ/ (Show IPA), liras.
1.
a coin and monetary unit of Italy until the euro was adopted, equal to 100 centesimi.
Abbreviation: L., Lit.
2.
a monetary unit of Malta, San Marino, and the Vatican City until the euro was adopted.
3.
a silver, bronze, or chrome steel coin and monetary unit of Turkey, equal to 100 kurus; equal to 100 piasters before 1933; Turkish pound.
Abbreviation: TL.
Origin
1610-20; < Italian < Old Provençal lieura < Latin lībra pound
Examples from the web for lira
  • Nobody wants to go back to the drachma, escudo or lira.
British Dictionary definitions for lira

lira

/ˈlɪərə; Italian ˈliːra/
noun (pl) lire (ˈlɪərɪ; Italian) (ˈliːre), liras
1.
the former standard monetary unit of Italy, San Marino, and the Vatican City, divided into 100 centesimi; replaced by the euro in 2002
2.
Also called pound. the standard monetary unit of Turkey, divided into 100 kuruş
3.
the former standard monetary unit of Malta, divided into 100 cents or 1000 mils; replaced by the euro in 2008
Word Origin
Italian, from Latin lībra pound
Word Origin and History for lira
n.

Italian monetary unit, 1610s, from Italian lira, literally "pound," from Latin libra (see Libra).

Encyclopedia Article for lira

the former monetary unit of Italy and the currency of modern Turkey and Malta

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