pyramid

/ˌpɪrəˈmɪd/

/ˈpɪrəmɪd/

Other forms: pyramids; pyramided; pyramiding

When you think pyramid, you're probably picturing the famous pyramids of Egypt — the enormous triangular monuments where pharaohs were buried thousands of years ago.

Besides being a polyhedron shape, pyramid can also represent shady financial dealings. If you've got a pyramid scheme — and if you do, you may be reading this from your jail cell — you have people buy into your "investment" and then they recruit others to buy in, too. The early investors rise in the pyramid and are then paid "returns" out of the funds paid in by the new investors they've recruited (the pyramid base), and on and on.

Definitions of pyramid

1. noun

   a polyhedron having a polygonal base and triangular sides with a common vertex
   type of:

   polyhedron

   a solid figure bounded by plane polygons or faces
2. noun

   a massive monument with a square base and four triangular sides; begun by Cheops around 2700 BC as royal tombs in ancient Egypt
   synonyms: Pyramid, Pyramids of Egypt

   example of:

   memorial, monument

   a structure erected to commemorate persons or events

   types:

   Great Pyramid

   the largest and oldest of the monumental tombs built in Giza for Egyptian pharaohs; the tomb of Cheops (also known as Khufu)
3. verb

   arrange or build up as if on the base of a pyramid
   type of:

   arrange, set up

   put into a proper or systematic order
4. verb

   increase rapidly and progressively step by step on a broad base
   type of:

   increase

   become bigger or greater in amount
5. noun

   (stock market) a series of transactions in which the speculator increases his holdings by using the rising market value of those holdings as margin for further purchases
   type of:

   speculation, venture

   an investment that is very risky but could yield great profits
6. verb

   use or deal in (as of stock or commercial transaction) in a pyramid deal
   type of:

   deal, sell, trade

   do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood
7. verb

   enlarge one's holdings on an exchange on a continued rise by using paper profits as margin to buy additional amounts
   type of:

   benefit, gain, profit

   derive a benefit from