‖n. [ L. lyra, Gr. &unr_;. See Lyre. ] 1. (Astron.) A northern constellation, the Harp, containing a white star of the first magnitude, called Alpha Lyræ, or Vega. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) The middle portion of the ventral surface of the fornix of the brain; -- so called from the arrangement of the lines with which it is marked in the human brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Astron.) Same as Lyrid. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ NL. lyratus. See Lyre. ] 1. (Bot.) Lyre-shaped, or spatulate and oblong, with small lobes toward the base; as, a lyrate leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Shaped like a lyre, as the tail of the blackcock, or that of the lyre bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. lire, OF. lyre, L. lyra, Gr. &unr_;. Cf. Lyra. ] 1. (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music; a kind of harp much used by the ancients, as an accompaniment to poetry. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) One of the constellations; Lyra. See Lyra. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. (Zool.) Any one of two or three species of Australian birds of the genus Menura. The male is remarkable for having the sixteen tail feathers very long and, when spread, arranged in the form of a lyre. The common lyre bird (Menura superba), inhabiting New South Wales, is about the size of a grouse. Its general color is brown, with rufous color on the throat, wings, tail coverts and tail. Called also lyre pheasant and lyre-tail. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) n. A garden plant (Dicentra spectabilis) having deep-pink drooping heart-shaped flowers.
Syn. -- bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. A lyric poem; a lyrical composition. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A composer of lyric poems. [ R. ] Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A verse of the kind usually employed in lyric poetry; -- used chiefly in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. pl. The words of a song. [ PJC ]

{ } a. [ L. lyricus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. lyrique. See Lyre. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a lyre or harp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fitted to be sung to the lyre; hence, also, appropriate for song; suitable for or suggestive of singing; -- of music or poetry. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. expressing deep personal emotion; -- said especially of poetry which expresses the individual emotions of the poet; as, the dancer's lyrical performance. “Sweet lyric song.” Milton.
Syn. -- lyric. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. the property of being suitable for singing.
Syn. -- lyricism, songfulness. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a lyrical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]