plinth

[ plinth ]

/ plɪnθ /

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See synonyms for plinth on Thesaurus.com

noun Architecture.

a slablike member beneath the base of a column or pier.

a square base or a lower block, as of a pedestal.

Also called plinth course . a projecting course of stones at the base of a wall; earth table.

(in joinery) a flat member at the bottom of an architrave, dado, baseboard, or the like.

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Origin of plinth

1555–65; earlier plinthus<Latin <Greek plínthos plinth, squared stone, brick, tile

OTHER WORDS FROM plinth

plinthless, adjectiveplinthlike, adjective

Words nearby plinth

plimsoll, Plimsoll line, Plimsoll mark, Plinian, plink, plinth, plinth block, Pliny, plio-, Pliocene, Pliofilm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use plinth in a sentence

The 40-foot stone plinth remains in place, covered with colorful graffiti from last summer’s racial and social justice protests.
The statue of Robert E. Lee is gone, but the mystery of the time capsule persists|Gregory S. Schneider|September 9, 2021|Washington Post
Though the monument itself was unveiled in 1890, the time capsule was planted in 1887 along with the first parts of the giant plinth.
The statue of Robert E. Lee is gone, but the mystery of the time capsule persists|Gregory S. Schneider|September 9, 2021|Washington Post
Aware of that status, Northam’s office still plans to take down the metal statue — though the fate of its stone plinth is an open question.
Northam proposes major effort to reimagine public space around Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond|Gregory S. Schneider|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
I half-expected him to barnstorm out in riding boots and harangue us, Mussolini-style, underlit from a plinth.
Obama Frees His Mojo|Tina Brown|September 10, 2009|DAILY BEAST

A giant toy duck was waddling on top of the fourth plinth when I arrived in Trafalgar Square mid-morning.
London's Living Sculptures|Anthony Haden-Guest|August 6, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The forty-six stalls in the choir, erected on a plinth of red sandstone, belong to this period (1401-19).
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Carlisle|C. King Eley
The panels of the desks are elaborately worked, and the stone plinth which supports them is decorated with quatrefoils.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Carlisle|C. King Eley
But the lower will seem to be larger, because it will project to the edge of the plinth.
Ten Books on Architecture|Vitruvius
LIX., and c the angle of the square plinth projecting beneath it.
The Stones of Venice, Volume I (of 3)|John Ruskin
The plinth which forms the upper part of the capital—supporting the entablature by bearing the lower surface of the epistyle beam.
History of Ancient Art|Franz von Reber

British Dictionary definitions for plinth

plinth

/ (plɪnθ) /

noun

Also called: socle the rectangular slab or block that forms the lowest part of the base of a column, statue, pedestal, or pier

Also called: plinth course the lowest part of the wall of a building that appears above ground level, esp one that is formed of a course of stone or brick

a flat block on either side of a doorframe, where the architrave meets the skirting

a flat base on which a structure or piece of equipment is placed

Word Origin for plinth

C17: from Latin plinthus, from Greek plinthos brick, shaped stone

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

plinth

Origin of plinth

OTHER WORDS FROM plinth

Words nearby plinth

Words related to plinth

How to use plinth in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plinth

Word Origin for plinth