pillar

[pil-er]

noun

1. an upright shaft or structure, of stone, brick, or other material, relatively slender in proportion to its height, and of any shape in section, used as a building support, or standing alone, as for a monument.

   Gothic pillars; a pillar to commemorate Columbus.

   Synonyms: pier, pilaster

2. a natural formation resembling such a construction.

   a pillar of rock; a pillar of smoke.

3. any upright, supporting part; post.

   the pillar of a table.

4. a person who is a chief supporter of a society, state, institution, etc..

   a pillar of the community.

5. a basis or support.

   The government regards agriculture and trade as fundamental pillars for the future economy.

6. a core tenet, belief, or religious act, especially in Islam.

   As the fifth pillar of Islam, every Muslim is obligated to make pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime as long as it is possible.

   The Ten Commandments are considered to be pillars of both Judaism and Christianity.

7. Horology.,  any of several short parts for spacing and keeping in the proper relative positions two plates holding the bearings of a watch or clock movement.

8. Mining.,  an isolated mass of rock or ore in a mine, usually serving as a roof support in early operations and later removed, wholly or in part.

9. Nautical.,  mast.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide or support with pillars.

pillar

/ ˈpɪlə /

noun

1. an upright structure of stone, brick, metal, etc, that supports a superstructure or is used for ornamentation

2. something resembling this in shape or function

   a pillar of stones

   a pillar of smoke

3. a tall, slender, usually sheer rock column, forming a separate top

4. a prominent supporter

   a pillar of the Church

5. from one place to another

verb

1. (tr) to support with or as if with pillars

Other Word Forms

• pillared adjective
• pillarlike adjective
• unpillared adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillar¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English piler(e), pileir, pillar(e) from Old French piler, pileir, piller, and Medieval Latin pīlāre, pīlārium, pīlārius, from Latin pīla pile ¹; -ar ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillar¹

C13: from Old French pilier, from Latin pīla; see _pile ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. from pillar to post,

   1. aimlessly from place to place.

   2. uneasily from one bad situation or predicament to another.

Synonym Study

See column.

Example Sentences

Burnette: There are three pillars to delivering an autonomous solution that is effective for customers.

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“Championship habits” is one of three pillars Redick has preached relentlessly during training camp, along with championship communication and championship shape.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A 100-foot-tall pillar of fire cast an orange glow over the night sky.

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For months, her anticipated arrival at CBS News, an aging pillar of the press establishment, has been a hot topic in the news business.

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An obvious barrier to enlisting those pillars to challenge the status quo is, of course, that many of them are the status quo.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• pedestal