obelisk

American  

[ob-uh-lisk] / ˈɒb ə lɪsk /

noun

1. a tapering, four-sided shaft of stone, usually monolithic and having a pyramidal apex.

2. something resembling such a shaft.

3. an obelus.

4. Printing.  dagger.

---

obelisk British  

/ ˈɒbɪlɪsk /

noun

1. a stone pillar having a square or rectangular cross section and sides that taper towards a pyramidal top, often used as a monument in ancient Egypt

2. printing another name for dagger

---

Other Word Forms

• obeliscal adjective
• obeliskoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of obelisk

1540–50; < Latin obeliscus < Greek obelískos small spit, equivalent to obel ( ós ) spit, pointed pillar + -iskos diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

He was driven into the huge esplanade, sitting in the back of an open-topped vehicle as it passed through the crowds, before descending and starting the service from his position beneath an ancient Egyptian obelisk.

From Reuters

This is clear from a distinctive obelisk, which can be seen at one point as the person filming moves around.

From BBC

Families eat and enjoy music by a historic obelisk, the first monument demarcating the border, from the mid-1800s.

From Los Angeles Times

The head of the scaffolding company saw one and, impressed, asked Winterbottom if he wanted to go to the top of the obelisk.

From Washington Post

Arches and obelisks built to honor generals and faceless victories predominated for hundreds of years.

From New York Times