obelisk
[ ob-uh-lisk ]
/ ˈɒb ə lɪsk /
noun
a tapering, four-sided shaft of stone, usually monolithic and having a pyramidal apex.
something resembling such a shaft.
an obelus.
Printing. dagger(def 2).
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Nearby words
obeid, obeid, el, obeisance, obelia, obelion, obelisk, obelize, obelus, obento, oberammergau, oberhausen
Origin of obelisk
1540–50; < Latin obeliscus < Greek obelískos small spit, equivalent to obel(ós) spit, pointed pillar + -iskos diminutive suffix
Related formsob·e·lis·cal, adjectiveob·e·lis·koid, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for obelisk
British Dictionary definitions for obelisk
obelisk
/ (ˈɒbɪlɪsk) /
noun
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
printing another name for dagger (def. 2)
Derived Formsobeliscal, adjectiveobeliskoid, adjective
Word Origin for obelisk
C16: via Latin from Greek obeliskos a little spit, from obelos spit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for obelisk
obelisk
"rectangular stone column tapering at the top," 1560s, from Middle French obélisque (16c.) and directly from Latin obeliscus "obelisk, small spit," from Greek obeliskos "small spit, obelisk, leg of a compass," diminutive of obelos "a spit, pointed pillar, needle." Related: Obeliskine.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper