\Stee"ple\, n. [OE. stepel, AS. st[=e]pel, st?pel; akin
to E. steep, a.] (Arch.)
A spire; also, the tower and spire taken together; the whole
of a structure if the roof is of spire form. See {Spire}. ``A
weathercock on a steeple.'' --Shak.
{Rood steeple}. See {Rood tower}, under {Rood}.
{Steeple bush} (Bot.), a low shrub ({Spir[ae]a tomentosa})
   having dense panicles of minute rose-colored flowers;
   hardhack.
{Steeple chase}, a race across country between a number of
   horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant
   object, as a church steeple; hence, a race over a
   prescribed course obstructed by such obstacles as one
   meets in riding across country, as hedges, walls, etc.
{Steeple chaser}, one who rides in a steeple chase; also, a
   horse trained to run in a steeple chase.
{Steeple engine}, a vertical back-acting steam engine having
   the cylinder beneath the crosshead.
{Steeple house}, a church. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor.