pier
Americannoun
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a structure built on posts extending from land out over water, used as a landing place for ships, an entertainment area, a strolling place, etc.; jetty.
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(in a bridge or the like) a support for the ends of adjacent spans.
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a square pillar.
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a portion of wall between doors, windows, etc.
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a pillar or post on which a gate or door is hung.
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a support of masonry, steel, or the like for sustaining vertical pressure.
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a long passageway or corridor that extends from a central area of a building, especially one at an airport that leads to boarding gates.
noun
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a structure with a deck that is built out over water, and used as a landing place, promenade, etc
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a pillar that bears heavy loads, esp one of rectangular cross section
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the part of a wall between two adjacent openings
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another name for buttress
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pier
before 1150; Middle English pere, earlier (perhaps late Old English ) per < Anglo-Latin pera, pēra pier of a bridge
Explanation
A pier is a platform reaching out to sea that can be used as a landing place for ships. If you enjoy sea fishing and don't have a boat, try casting your line from the end of the pier. Pier has two meanings. The most common is for the platform, often wooden, that extends over water away from shore, so that ships can dock. Many seaside towns have turned their piers into entertainment districts, with games and places to stroll. A pier can also be a pillar that supports a bridge.
Vocabulary lists containing pier
Built To Last: Architectural Parlance
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Seas The Day: Words That Shore Are Beachy
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Civil Engineering
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On the west side, the street along the harbor is chockablock with venues catering to tourists and daytrippers come to enjoy the pier and small beaches.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
The department issued an update on X at 11:57 a.m. saying the pier will remain closed until further notice.
From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026
The pier was widely viewed as a failure: It repeatedly broke apart due to bad weather, was operational for only 20 days and cost $230 million.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
Since then, he has created installations at the festival using reclaimed materials, including Carhenge - a replica of Stonehenge built from vintage vehicles – and Glastonbury-on-Sea, a 60ft pier.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
No altering of the environment or pier by contestants.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
