Definitions of pillar [ˈpɪl ər]

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Definition of 'pillar'

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

1. (n.) pillar
an upright shaft or structure, of stone, brick, or other material, relatively slender in proportion to its height, and of any shape in section, used as a building support, or standing alone, as for a monument.

2.  pillar
a natural formation resembling such a construction:
a pillar of smoke.

3.  pillar
any upright, supporting part; post.

4.  pillar
a person who is a chief supporter of a state, institution, etc.

5.  pillar
(in a mine) an isolated mass of rock or ore, usu. serving as a roof support.

6. (v.t.) pillar
to provide or support with pillars.

7.  pillar
from place to place, esp. aimlessly.

8.  pillar
from one bad situation or predicament to another.

Etymology: (1175–1225; ME piler (< OF), pillare < ML pīlāre; see pile¹, -ar²)

Definition of 'pillar'

Princeton's WordNet

1. (noun) pillar
a fundamental principle or practice
"science eroded the pillars of superstition"

2. (noun) column, tower, pillar
anything that approximates the shape of a column or tower
"the test tube held a column of white powder"; "a tower of dust rose above the horizon"; "a thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite"

3. (noun) pillar, mainstay
a prominent supporter
"he is a pillar of the community"

4. (noun) column, pillar
a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)

5. (noun) column, pillar
(architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure

Definition of 'pillar'

Kernerman English Learner’s Dictionary

1. (noun) pillar
a support for a building
We walked up the steps between the huge pillars.

Definition of 'pillar'

Webster Dictionary

1. (adj) pillar
having a support in the form of a pillar, instead of legs; as, a pillar drill

2. (noun) pillar
the general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament

3. (noun) pillar
figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay; as, the Pillars of Hercules; a pillar of the state

4. (noun) pillar
a portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church

5. (noun) pillar
the center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns

Translation of 'pillar'

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

Sense: an upright post used in building as a support or decoration The hall was surrounded by stone pillars.
Afrikaans: pilaar	Arabic: عَمود	Bulgarian: стълб
Brazilian: coluna	Czech: sloup; pilíř	German: der Pfeiler
Danish: pille; søjle	Greek: κίονας, στύλος	Spanish: pilar, columna
Estonian: piilar	Farsi: ستون	Finnish: pilari
French: pilier	Hebrew: עַמוּד	Hindi: खम्भा, स्तम्भ
Croatian: stup, potporanj	Hungarian: oszlop	Indonesian: tiang
Icelandic: súla, stólpi	Italian: pilastro	Japanese: 柱
Korean: 기둥	Lithuanian: piliorius, stulpas, atram	Latvian: pīlārs; stabs
Malay: tiang	Dutch: zuil	Norwegian: søyle, pilar
Polish: kolumna	Persian: ستون	Pashto: پايه، تنه، مټه، ركن
Portuguese: coluna	Romanian: stâlp	Russian: колонна
Slovak: stĺp; pilier	Slovenian: steber	Serbian: stub
Swedish: pelare	Thai: เสาค้ำ	Turkish: sütun
Taiwanese: 柱子	Ukrainian: стовп, колона	Urdu: کھمبا، ستون
Vietnamese: cột trụ	Chinese: 柱子
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