skyscraper

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A very tall building with a large number of floors.

   As the curve of Sandy Hook blotted from sight the last, low glimpse of the skyscrapers which point Manhattan, Blake touched Annette's arm.

2. 2
   noun

   Anything very tall or high.

   It was no surprise to see Hanley bat a skyscraper out to left.

3. 3
   noun

   a very tall building with many stories

4. 4
   noun

   A small sail atop a mast of a ship; a triangular skysail.

Etymology

Compound of sky + scraper, first applied to tall steel-frame buildings in American cities such as New York City and Chicago in the 1880s.