podium
[poh-dee-uh m]
- 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.
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- (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.
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Origin of podium
-podium
- a combining form meaning “footlike part” of an organism, used in the formation of compound words: monopodium; pseudo-podium.
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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. 2018
Examples from the Web for podium
Contemporary Examples
Biden, after all, is known for his unbuttoned comments from the podium.
By the time Gurira took her place at the Google podium to read from the play, the audience was primed for emotion.
But King just stepped up to the podium and delivered one of the finest speeches of his life.
Red tie and blue shirt-clad Paul walked casually in front of the audience and, like a normal person, stood behind the podium.
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.
Historical Examples
The ends of the seat or 'podium,' are concealed by boldly carved wings.
The Care of BooksJohn Willis Clark
Cassius, standing in Csar's podium, seemed puny compared with that Lygian.
Quo VadisHenryk Sienkiewicz
Behind the podium was a double portico, which ran round the whole building.
Rambles in RomeS. Russell Forbes
It seems now much larger on account of the removal of the wall of the podium.
Old RomeRobert Burn
Calmly, Lester produced a hundred-dollar bill and slid it across the podium.
MakersCory Doctorow
podium
- 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
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Word Origin
C18: from Latin: platform, balcony, from Greek podion little foot, from pous foot
-podium
- a part resembling a footpseudopodium
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Word Origin
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
Word Origin and History for podium
n.
1743, "raised platform around an ancient arena," also "projecting base of a pedestal," from Latin podium "raised platform," from Greek podion "foot of a vase," diminutive of pous (genitive podos) "foot" (see foot (n.)). Meaning "raised platform at the front of a hall or stage" is from 1947.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper