Definitions for pillar
ˈpɪl ərpil·lar

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. pillar(noun)

   a fundamental principle or practice

   "science eroded the pillars of superstition"

2. column, tower, pillar(noun)

   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. pillar, mainstay(noun)

   a prominent supporter

   "he is a pillar of the community"

4. column, pillar(noun)

   a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)

5. column, pillar(noun)

   (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure

Wiktionary(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pillar(Noun)

   A large post, often used as supporting architecture.

2. pillar(Noun)

   Something resembling such a structure.

   a pillar of smoke

3. pillar(Noun)

   An essential part of something that provides support.

   He's a pillar of the community.

4. pillar(Verb)

   To provide with pillars or added strength as if from pillars.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Pillar(noun)

   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

   Etymology: [OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap.]

2. Pillar(noun)

   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

   Etymology: [OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap.]

3. Pillar(noun)

   a portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church

   Etymology: [OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap.]

4. Pillar(noun)

   the center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns

   Etymology: [OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap.]

5. Pillar(adj)

   having a support in the form of a pillar, instead of legs; as, a pillar drill

   Etymology: [OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap.]

Freebase(4.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pillar

   Pillar is a Christian rock band currently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their sixth studio album, Confessions, was released in 2009. On October 27, 2012 Pillar announced that the four members from the "peak years" would be reuniting with plans of releasing a new album in 2013.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Pillar

   pil′ar, n. (archit.) a detached support, differing from a column in that it is not necessarily cylindrical, or of classical proportions: one who, or anything that, sustains: something resembling a pillar in appearance.—adj. Pill′ared, supported by a pillar: having the form of a pillar.—ns. Pill′ar-box, a short pillar in a street with receptacle for letters to be sent by post; Pill′arist, Pill′ar-saint, a person in the early church who crucified the flesh by living on the summit of pillars in the open air, a stylite.—From pillar to post, from one state of difficulty to another: hither and thither. [O. Fr. piler (Fr. pilier)—Low L. pilare—L. pīla, a pillar.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pillar

   A type of structure.

   The pillar of the carpark was sturdy.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 10, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pillar

   Song lyrics by pillar -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by pillar on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pillar' in Nouns Frequency: #2990

Anagrams for pillar »

1. Aprill

How to pronounce pillar?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say pillar in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pillar in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pillar in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of pillar in a Sentence

1. Lawrence Durrell:

   Now stiff on a pillar with a phallic air nelson stylites in Trafalgar square reminds the British what once they were.

2. Sanjeet Singh-Saluja:

   One of the pillars of the Sikh faith is Seva, which is service to mankind. I have always viewed my work at the MUHC as a chance for me to fulfill my faith's expectations of service, however, another pillar of the faith, as many of you know, is Kesh, which is the practice of allowing one's hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God's creation. In this time of pandemic, I am faced with an existential crisis as the latter has severely limited my ability to serve.

3. Wang Qun:

   This is a pillar, not something that China set. It is universally recognized by the international community.

4. Defense Secretary Ash Carter:

   The first pillar of our future force must be ensuring that we maintain, and extend, our technological edge over any potential adversary.

5. Deacon Andrei Kuraev:

   There's an attempt by Patriarch Kirill to offer himself to the state and to the Kremlin as a faithful pillar, a faithful ally. There is an illusion in the Kremlin that they can use this ally to promote the correct electoral behavior, i am against this political union.

Images & Illustrations of pillar

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