Definitions for obelisk
ˈɒb ə lɪskobelisk

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. obelisknoun

   a stone pillar having a rectangular cross section tapering towards a pyramidal top

2. dagger, obelisknoun

   a character used in printing to indicate a cross reference or footnote

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. obelisknoun

   A tall, square, tapered, stone monolith topped with a pyramidal point, frequently used as a monument.

2. obelisknoun

   The dagger sign (), especially when used as a reference mark.

3. Etymology: 1569. From obelisque, from obeliscus, from ὀβελίσκος, diminutive of ὀβελός.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Obelisknoun

   1.A magnificent high piece of solid marble, or other fine stone, having usually four faces, and lessening upwards by degrees, till it ends in a point like a pyramid. John Harris

   Etymology: obeliscus, Latin.

   Between the statues obelisks were plac’d,
   And the learn’d walls with hieroglyphicks grac’d. Alexander Pope.

   2. A mark of censure in the margin of a book, in the form of a dagger [†].

   He published the translation of the Septuagint, having compared it with the Hebrew, and noted by asterisks what was defective, and by obelisks what redundant. Nehemiah Grew.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Obelisk

   An obelisk (; from Ancient Greek: ὀβελίσκος obeliskos; diminutive of ὀβελός obelos, "spit, nail, pointed pillar") is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape or pyramidion at the top. Originally constructed by Ancient Egyptians and called tekhenu, the Greeks used the Greek term obeliskos to describe them, and this word passed into Latin and ultimately English. Ancient obelisks are monolithic; they consist of a single stone. Most modern obelisks are made of several stones.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Obelisknoun

   an upright, four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it rises, and terminating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom

2. Obelisknoun

   a mark of reference; -- called also dagger [/]. See Dagger, n., 2

3. Obeliskverb

   to mark or designate with an obelisk

4. Etymology: [L. obeliscus, Gr. 'obeli`skos, dim. of 'obelo`s a spit, a pointed pillar: cf. F. oblisque.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Obelisk

   An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top. Like Egyptian pyramids, whose shape is thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun, an obelisk is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon. Ancient obelisks were often monolithic, whereas most modern obelisks are made of several stones and can have interior spaces. The term stele is generally used for other monumental standing inscribed sculpted stones.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Obelisk

   ob′e-lisk, n. a tall, four-sided, tapering pillar, usually of one stone, finished at the top like a flat pyramid: (print.) a dagger ( † ).—adj. Ob′eliscal.—v.t. Ob′elise, to mark with an obelisk, to condemn as spurious, indelicate, &c.—n. Ob′elus, a mark ( — or ÷ ) used in ancient MSS. to mark suspected passages, esp. in the Septuagint to indicate passages not in the Hebrew:—pl. Ob′eli. [Through Fr. and L., from Gr. obeliskos, dim. of obelos, a spit.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Obelisk

   a tall four-sided pillar, generally monolithic, tapering to a pyramidal pointed top, erected in connection with temples in Egypt, and inscribed all over with hieroglyphs, and in memorial, as is likely, of some historical personage or event; they are of ancient date.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. obelisk

   The obelisk symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the obelisk symbol and its characteristic.

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How to pronounce obelisk?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say obelisk in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of obelisk in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of obelisk in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

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