Spire: A stalk drawn into a taper by its passage from earth to air under the pull of the sun; figuratively, a church steeple. A spire that has been accentuated with a sharpened tip is a “spear”. It is used to reverse the action of a spire and to bring life down to earth, often with a thud. The word spear is commonly used for spire today, although such spears rarely do the work of a spire. The spire (or spear) below is particularly good grilled with Gruyère.

Asparagus Spire, Oyster Bay, British Columbia