podium

[ poh-dee-uh m ]

/ ˈpoʊ di əm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR podium ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural po·di·ums, po·di·a [poh-dee-uh] /ˈpoʊ di ə/.

a small platform for the conductor of an orchestra, a public speaker, the recipient of a sports medal, etc.

Architecture.

a low wall forming a base for a construction, as a colonnade or dome.
a stereobate for a classical temple, especially one with perpendicular sides.
the masonry supporting a classical temple.
a raised platform surrounding the arena of an ancient Roman amphitheater having on it the seats of privileged spectators.

lectern.

a counter or booth, as one at an airport for handling tickets or dispensing information.

Zoology, Anatomy. a foot.

Botany. a footstalk or stipe.

verb (used without object)

(in a sports competition) to finish first, second, or third and receive an award while standing on a podium: He’s podiumed in five of his past six races.

Nearby words

podgy, podiatric medicine, podiatrist, podiatry, podite, podium, podo-, podocarpus, podocyte, pododynamometer, pododynia

Origin of podium

1605–15; < Latin: “elevated place, balcony” < Greek pódion “little foot,” equivalent to pod- pod- + -ion diminutive suffix. See pew

Definition for podium (2 of 2)

-podium

a combining form meaning “footlike part” of an organism, used in the formation of compound words: monopodium; pseudo-podium.

Also -pode.

Origin of -podium

From New Latin; see origin at podium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for podium

Biden, after all, is known for his unbuttoned comments from the podium.
Joe Biden: ‘I’ll Kill Your Son’|Olivia Nuzzi|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By the time Gurira took her place at the Google podium to read from the play, the audience was primed for emotion.
Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira Vs. Boko Haram|Kristi York Wooten|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But King just stepped up to the podium and delivered one of the finest speeches of his life.
Martin Luther King’s Nobel Speech Is an Often Ignored Masterpiece|Malcolm Jones|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Red tie and blue shirt-clad Paul walked casually in front of the audience and, like a normal person, stood behind the podium.
Paul, Cruz Duel at ‘Values Voter’ Event|Olivia Nuzzi|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

On the outskirts of the partisan mayhem, a smaller crowd gathered as a heavy-set man strode up to a podium in front of them.
For the Right Price, You Can Buy This Candidate|Jack Holmes|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The watchman blocked Mark's escape and looked toward the podium in an automatic appeal to Dr. Grant.
Ye of Little Faith|Roger Phillips Graham
Like the Etruscan temple, it is raised on a podium, and approached by a flight of steps.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4|Various
No other seats were open to them unless they were of sufficient distinction to claim a place upon the podium.
The Private Life of the Romans|Harold Whetstone Johnston
Like most of the Roman temples, this edifice is elevated on a foundation (the podium), and turned toward the north.
The Wonders of Pompeii|Marc Monnier
It did him good, by contrast, to hear a hearty peal of laughter that came up from the lowest ranks of the podium.
Serapis, Complete|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for podium (1 of 2)

podium

/ (ˈpəʊdɪəm) /

noun plural -diums or -dia (-dɪə)

a small raised platform used by lecturers, orchestra conductors, etc; dais

a plinth that supports a colonnade or wall

a low wall surrounding the arena of an ancient amphitheatre

zoology

the terminal part of a vertebrate limb
any footlike organ, such as the tube foot of a starfish

Word Origin for podium

C18: from Latin: platform, balcony, from Greek podion little foot, from pous foot

British Dictionary definitions for podium (2 of 2)

-podium

n combining form

a part resembling a footpseudopodium

Word Origin for -podium

from New Latin: footlike; see podium

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