a musical instrument of ancient Greece consisting of a soundbox made typically from a turtle shell, with two curved arms connected by a yoke from which strings are stretched to the body, used especially to accompany singing and recitation.
2.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Lyra.
The buying of a lyre with cash wouldn't concern me so much.
Aficionados compare their shape to the lyre and even to the scorpion's arched stinger.
He's searching for a divine lyre that could cure him.
The difference being that the lyre snake's grooved teeth are in the rear of its mouth.
British Dictionary definitions for lyre
lyre
/laɪə/
noun
1.
an ancient Greek stringed instrument consisting of a resonating tortoise shell to which a crossbar was attached by two projecting arms. It was plucked with a plectrum and used for accompanying songs
2.
any ancient instrument of similar design
3.
a medieval bowed instrument of the violin family
Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin lyra, from Greek lura
Word Origin and History for lyre
n.
harp-like instrument, c.1200, from Old French lire "lyre," from Latin lyra, from Greek lyra, a foreign word of uncertain origin.