pillar
/ˈpɪlɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.64 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A large post, often used as supporting architecture.
noun
Something resembling such a structure.
noun
A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.
noun
A vertical, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation.
Example Sentences
- "a pillar of smoke"
- "He's a pillar of the community."
- "In the Shanghai Communiqué of 1972, we recognized the fact that both Beijing and Taipei viewed Taiwan as part of China but unequivocally expressed our support for a peaceful settlement of the unification issue. While we should not alter the fundamental pillars of our policy, we should consider certain steps that will raise Taiwan's international standing."
- "Star Trek is one of the pillars of modern entertainment."
- "two laye-men secular eache of theym holdynge a pillar In their hondes, steade of a mace"
- "Insufficient penetration, or faulty distribution of the blast, may give rise to "pillaring" — that is, the formation of a pillar or column of cold material extending up through the middle of the hearth"
Etymology
From Middle English piler, from Old French pilier, from Medieval Latin or Vulgar Latin *pilāre (“a pillar”), from Latin pila (“a pillar, pier, mole”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɪlɚ/
- British English: /ˈpɪlə/