The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tire \Tire\, n. [Aphetic form of attire; OE. tir, a tir. See
   Attire.]
   1. Attire; apparel. [Archaic] "Having rich tire about you."
      --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A covering for the head; a headdress.
      [1913 Webster]

            On her head she wore a tire of gold.  --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A child's apron, covering the breast and having no
      sleeves; a pinafore; a tier.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Furniture; apparatus; equipment. [Obs.] "The tire of war."
      --Philips.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. [Probably the same word, and so called as being an attire
      or covering for the wheel.] A ring, hoop or band, as of
      rubber or metal, on the circumference of the wheel of a
      vehicle, to impart strength and receive the wear. In
      Britain, spelled tyre.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The iron tire of a wagon wheel or cart wheel binds the
         fellies together. The tire of a locomotive or
         railroad-car wheel is a heavy hoop of iron or steel
         shrunk tightly upon an iron central part. The wheel of
         a bicycle or road vehicle (automobile, motorcyle,
         truck) has a tire of rubber, which is typically hollow
         inside and inflated with air to lessen the shocks from
         bumps on uneven roads.
         [1913 Webster +PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tyre \Tyre\, n. [Tamil tayir.]
   Curdled milk. [India]
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

tyre \tyre\, n.
   Same as 2nd tire, n., sense 5. [British spelling]
   [PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tyre \Tyre\, n. & v.
   Attire. See 2d and 3d Tire. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tyre \Tyre\, v. i.
   To prey upon. See 4th Tire. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Tyre
    n 1: a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea;
         formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks [syn:
         Sur, Tyre]
    2: hoop that covers a wheel; "automobile tires are usually made
       of rubber and filled with compressed air" [syn: tire,
       tyre]

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Tyre
   a rock, now es-Sur; an ancient Phoenician city, about 23 miles,
   in a direct line, north of Acre, and 20 south of Sidon. Sidon
   was the oldest Phoenician city, but Tyre had a longer and more
   illustrious history. The commerce of the whole world was
   gathered into the warehouses of Tyre. "Tyrian merchants were the
   first who ventured to navigate the Mediterranean waters; and
   they founded their colonies on the coasts and neighbouring
   islands of the AEgean Sea, in Greece, on the northern coast of
   Africa, at Carthage and other places, in Sicily and Corsica, in
   Spain at Tartessus, and even beyond the pillars of Hercules at
   Gadeira (Cadiz)" (Driver's Isaiah). In the time of David a
   friendly alliance was entered into between the Hebrews and the
   Tyrians, who were long ruled over by their native kings (2 Sam.
   5:11; 1 Kings 5:1; 2 Chr. 2:3).

     Tyre consisted of two distinct parts, a rocky fortress on the
   mainland, called "Old Tyre," and the city, built on a small,
   rocky island about half-a-mile distant from the shore. It was a
   place of great strength. It was besieged by Shalmaneser, who was
   assisted by the Phoenicians of the mainland, for five years, and
   by Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586-573) for thirteen years, apparently
   without success. It afterwards fell under the power of Alexander
   the Great, after a siege of seven months, but continued to
   maintain much of its commercial importance till the Christian
   era. It is referred to in Matt. 11:21 and Acts 12:20. In A.D.
   1291 it was taken by the Saracens, and has remained a desolate
   ruin ever since.

     "The purple dye of Tyre had a worldwide celebrity on account
   of the durability of its beautiful tints, and its manufacture
   proved a source of abundant wealth to the inhabitants of that
   city."

     Both Tyre and Sidon "were crowded with glass-shops, dyeing and
   weaving establishments; and among their cunning workmen not the
   least important class were those who were celebrated for the
   engraving of precious stones." (2 Chr. 2:7,14).

     The wickedness and idolatry of this city are frequently
   denounced by the prophets, and its final destruction predicted
   (Isa. 23:1; Jer. 25:22; Ezek. 26; 28:1-19; Amos 1:9, 10; Zech.
   9:2-4).

     Here a church was founded soon after the death of Stephen, and
   Paul, on his return from his third missionary journey spent a
   week in intercourse with the disciples there (Acts 21:4). Here
   the scene at Miletus was repeated on his leaving them. They all,
   with their wives and children, accompanied him to the sea-shore.
   The sea-voyage of the apostle terminated at Ptolemais, about 38
   miles from Tyre. Thence he proceeded to Caesarea (Acts 21:5-8).

     "It is noticed on monuments as early as B.C. 1500, and
   claiming, according to Herodotus, to have been founded about
   B.C. 2700. It had two ports still existing, and was of
   commercial importance in all ages, with colonies at Carthage
   (about B.C. 850) and all over the Mediterranean. It was often
   attacked by Egypt and Assyria, and taken by Alexander the Great
   after a terrible siege in B.C. 332. It is now a town of 3,000
   inhabitants, with ancient tombs and a ruined cathedral. A short
   Phoenician text of the fourth century B.C. is the only monument
   yet recovered."


Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's):

Tyre, Tyrus, strength; rock; sharp