\Lyre\, n. [OE. lire, OF. lyre, L. lyra, Gr. ?. Cf.
{Lyra}.]
1. (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music; a kind of harp much
   used by the ancients, as an accompaniment to poetry.
Note: 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
2. (Astron.) One of the constellations; Lyra. See {Lyra}.
{Lyre bat} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), the leatherback.