Belfry vs. Steeple — What's the Difference?

A bell tower, especially one attached to a building.

In architecture, a steeple is a tall tower on a building, topped by a spire and often incorporating a belfry and other components. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure.

The part of a tower or steeple in which bells are hung.

A tower rising above the roof of a building, such as a church, and usually surmounted by a spire.

(architecture) A tower or steeple specifically for containing bells, especially as part of a church.

A spire.

(architecture) A part of a large tower or steeple, specifically for containing bells.

A tall tower, often on a church, normally topped with a spire.

(dialectal) A shed.

A spire.

(obsolete) A movable tower used in sieges.

(historical) A high headdress of the 14th century.

(obsolete) An alarm-tower; a watchtower containing an alarm-bell.

(transitive) To form something into the shape of a steeple.

A movable tower erected by besiegers for purposes of attack and defense.

A spire; also, the tower and spire taken together; the whole of a structure if the roof is of spire form. See Spire.

A bell tower, usually attached to a church or other building, but sometimes separate; a campanile.

A tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

A room in a tower in which a bell is or may be hung; or a cupola or turret for the same purpose.

The framing on which a bell is suspended.

A bell tower; usually stands alone unattached to a building

A room (often at the top of a tower) where bells are hung