Definitions for pillar
ˈpɪl ərpil·lar

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. pillarnoun

   a fundamental principle or practice

   "science eroded the pillars of superstition"

2. column, tower, pillarnoun

   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, mainstaynoun

   a prominent supporter

   "he is a pillar of the community"

4. column, pillarnoun

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

5. column, pillarnoun

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.7 / 3 votes

1. pillarnoun

   A large post, often used as supporting architecture.

2. pillarnoun

   Something resembling such a structure.

   a pillar of smoke

3. pillarnoun

   An essential part of something that provides support.

   He's a pillar of the community.

4. pillarverb

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

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

1. PILLARnoun

   Etymology: pilier, Fr. pilar, Spanish; pilastro, Italian; piler, Welsh and Armorick.

   1. A column.

   Pillars or columns, I could distinguish into simple and compounded. Henry Wotton, Architecture.

   The palace built by Picus vast and proud,
   Supported by a hundred pillars stood. Dryden.

   2. A supporter; a maintainer.

   Give them leave to fly, that will not stay;
   And call them pillars that will stand to us. William Shakespeare.

   Note, and you shall see in him
   The triple pillar of the world transform’d
   Into a strumpet’s stool. William Shakespeare, Ant. and Cleopatra.

   I charge you by the law,
   Whereof you are a well deserving pillar,
   Proceed to judgment. William Shakespeare, Merch. of Venice.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pillar

   A pillar is a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal, used as a support for a building, or as an ornament or monument. It can also refer to a person or principle that is a crucial support or integral part of a system or organization.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Pillarnoun

   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

2. Pillarnoun

   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

3. Pillarnoun

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

4. Pillarnoun

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

5. Pillaradjective

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

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

FreebaseRate this definition:4.0 / 2 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

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 ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pillar

   A type of structure.

   The pillar of the carpark was sturdy.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 10, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pillar

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

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PILLAR

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pillar is ranked #16481 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Pillar surname appeared 1,743 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 would have the surname Pillar.
   
   61.6% or 1,075 total occurrences were White.
   23.8% or 415 total occurrences were Asian.
   8.8% or 154 total occurrences were Black.
   3.3% or 59 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.

Matched Categories

1. • Architecture
   • Principle
   • Shape
   • Structure
   • Supporter
   • Upright

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

   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 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. Jeffrey Vlaming:

   CHRIS The bane and blessing of human nature. That old cat killer, curiosity. Something so deeply embedded in our psyches that it screams to us from ancient myths of Pandora. Eve. Lot's wife. JOEL Eve lost paradise, Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt. Knowledge doesn't come cheap my friend. CHRIS Good or bad, curiosity is woven into our DNA like tonsils or like the opposable thumb. It's the fire under the ass of the human experience

2. Bilingual Hirai:

   The entertainment segment has maintained profitability for 18 years straight, and as a generator of stable profit, it is a major pillar of the Sony Group.

3. Meryl Streep:

   I have always regarded myself as the pillar of my life.

4. Millan Mulraine:

   That would be seen as encouraging given everything that is going on in the rest of the world and would reinforce the notion that consumer spending will remain a key pillar of support for the U.S. economy.

5. Mesirow Financial:

   Eric was not only a pillar in our industry, he was a great partner and friend to many.

Popularity rank by frequency of use