pylon

[pahy-lon]

noun

1. a marking post or tower for guiding aviators, frequently used in races.

2. a relatively tall structure at the side of a gate, bridge, or avenue, marking an entrance or approach.

3. a monumental tower forming the entrance to an ancient Egyptian temple, consisting either of a pair of tall quadrilateral masonry masses with sloping sides and a doorway between them or of one such mass pierced with a doorway.

4. a steel tower or mast carrying high-tension lines, telephone wires, or other cables and lines.

5. Aeronautics.,  a finlike device used to attach engines, auxiliary fuel tanks, bombs, etc., to an aircraft wing or fuselage.

pylon

/ ˈpaɪlən /

noun

1. a large vertical steel tower-like structure supporting high-tension electrical cables

2. a post or tower for guiding pilots or marking a turning point in a race

3. a streamlined aircraft structure for attaching an engine pod, external fuel tank, etc, to the main body of the aircraft

4. a monumental gateway, such as one at the entrance to an ancient Egyptian temple

5. a temporary artificial leg

Word History and Origins

Origin of pylon¹

First recorded in 1840–50, pylon is from the Greek word pylṓn gateway, gate tower

Word History and Origins

Origin of pylon¹

C19: from Greek pulōn a gateway

Example Sentences

A number of what are termed "nationally significant infrastructure projects" are planned for the county, including large-scale solar farms and a corridor of pylons between Grimsby and Walpole, in Norfolk.

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The journey across offers commuters cinematic views across the water, and its giant metal pylons are striking.

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The lawyers said the January wildfire is “further evidence” that a transmission pylon known as Tower 2-5 “is improperly grounded.”

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The Dreadnaught was — well, you’ve eaten there, or someplace like it: a big, old, ramshackle driftwood pile, built out over the water on ancient wooden pylons.

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There are electric pylons close by that hum, which may bother some people, but other than that, the area is not too noisy.

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Related Words

• monument