A pillar is a tall solid structure, which is usually used to support part of a building.
...the pillars supporting the roof.
Synonyms: support, post, column, piling More Synonyms of pillar
2. countable noun
If something is the pillarof a system or agreement, it is the most important part of it or what makes it strong and successful.
The pillar of her economic policy was keeping tight control over money supply. [+ of]
...the last pillar of apartheid.
3. countable noun
If you describe someone as a pillar of society or as a pillarof the community, you approve of them because they play an important and active part in society or in the community.
[approval]
My father had been a pillar of the community. [+ of]
...well-respected pillars of society.
Synonyms: supporter, leader, rock, worthy More Synonyms of pillar
pillar in British English
(ˈpɪlə)
noun
1.
an upright structure of stone, brick, metal, etc, that supports a superstructure or is used for ornamentation
2.
something resembling this in shape or function
a pillar of stones
a pillar of smoke
3.
a tall, slender, usually sheer rock column, forming a separate top
4.
a prominent supporter
a pillar of the Church
5. from pillar to post
verb
6. (transitive)
to support with or as if with pillars
Word origin
C13: from Old French pilier, from Latin pīla; see pile1
pillar in American English
(ˈpɪlər)
noun
1.
a long, slender, vertical structure used to support a superstructure; column
2.
such a column standing alone as a monument
3.
anything like a pillar in form or function, as a formation of ore left standing as a support in a mine
4.
a person who is a main support of an institution, movement, etc.
verb transitive
5.
to support or brace with or as with pillars
Idioms:
from pillar to post
Word origin
ME piler < OFr < VL *pilare < L pila, column
More idioms containing
pillar
from pillar to post
pillar to post
Examples of 'pillar' in a sentence
pillar
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
In the past few years there have been just two pillars of official resistance to this greed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A pillar of the Establishment.
The Sun (2016)
The first thing they did when they took over was to paint all the pillar boxes green.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Contact tracing is a central pillar of fighting ebola.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The sky is supported by four pillars.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
The dividend is an important pillar of the capitalist system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Go back a year and the pillar box was in steep and terminal decline.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The impact sent the bus careering into concrete pillars supporting a bridge.
The Sun (2008)
And as appointed pillars of our society they have made us feel anxious about its foundations.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Our economic platform is based on the twin pillars of a free economy and social justice.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If we lose our sense of national history we lose an important pillar in our national identity.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Two of those cellars have vaults supported on central pillars in almost monastic manner and are ideal for parties or suppers.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She is fighting for'one of the two pillars of natural justice.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In short, she is a pillar of the establishment.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I gripped slender pillars where the floor looked frail.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
Its booking offices and shops and telephone booths and massive concrete roof and pillars just weren't there any more.
Joan Rice Sand In My Shoes: Wartime Diaries of a WAAF (2006)
Familiar light flickered across the rising pillars and half pillars of rock, the hanging forest of stony branches and twigs.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Vast pillars of smoke went up from the dozens of food stalls in the square, and the smells that rose with them were irresistible.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The brick pillars still help to support the railway bridge into Charing Cross.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The Six Nations is built on six pillars and becomes shaky if it stands merely on five.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
With white walls, red round pillars and flat roofs, the house references the international style of the interwar period pretty heavily.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
pillar
architectural features
In other languages
pillar
British English: pillar /ˈpɪlə/ NOUN
A pillar is a tall solid structure which is usually used to support part of a building.
...the pillars supporting the roof.
American English: pillar
Arabic: عَمْود
Brazilian Portuguese: pilar
Chinese: 柱子
Croatian: stup
Czech: sloup
Danish: søjle
Dutch: pilaar
European Spanish: pilar
Finnish: pylväs
French: pilier
German: Säule
Greek: στύλος
Italian: pilastro
Japanese: 柱
Korean: 기둥
Norwegian: søyle
Polish: filar
European Portuguese: pilar
Romanian: pilon
Russian: колонна
Latin American Spanish: pilar
Swedish: pelare
Thai: เสาหลัก
Turkish: sütun
Ukrainian: колона
Vietnamese: cột nhà
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'pillar'
moon pillar
a halo phenomenon in which a vertical streak of light appears above and below the moon , believed to be caused by the reflection of moonlight by ice crystals with vertical axes
pillar box
In Britain, a pillar box is a tall red box in the street in which you put letters that you are sending by post .
sun pillar
a halo phenomenon in which a vertical streak of light appears above and below the sun, believed to be caused by the reflection of sunlight by ice crystals with vertical axes
earth pillar
a landform consisting of a column of clay or earth capped and protected from erosion by a boulder
pillar to post
used for describing a victory in sport , especially in horse racing, in which the winner was in the lead from the start of the race
from pillar to post
if someone is moved from pillar to post, they are moved repeatedly from one place or position to another, usually in a hurried or disorganized way so that they suffer as a result
Chinese translation of 'pillar'
pillar
(ˈpɪləʳ)
n(c)
柱子 (zhùzi) (根, gēn)
a pillar of society/of the community社会(會)/社区(區)的支柱 (shèhuì/shèqū de zhīzhù)
1 (noun)
Definition
an upright support of stone, brick, or metal
the pillars supporting the roof
Synonyms
support
Rats had been gnawing at the supports of the house.
post
Eight wooden posts were driven into the ground.
column
Great stone steps led past Greek columns to the main building.
piling
prop
The timber is reinforced with three steel props on a concrete foundation.
shaft
upright
pier
the cross-beams bracing the piers of the jetty
obelisk
The obelisk was erected in his memory in 1812.
stanchion
pilaster
2 (noun)
Definition
a prominent supporter or member
My father had been a pillar of the community.
Synonyms
supporter
a major supporter of the tax reform plan
leader
the leader of the Conservative Party
rock
She was the rock of the family.
worthy
mainstay
Fish and rice were the mainstays of their diet.
leading light (informal)
tower of strength
upholder
torchbearer
Additional synonyms
in the sense of column
Definition
an upright pillar usually having a cylindrical shaft, a base, and a capital
Great stone steps led past Greek columns to the main building.
Synonyms
pillar,
support,
post,
shaft,
upright,
obelisk,
pilaster,
caryatid
in the sense of leader
Definition
a person who rules, guides, or inspires others
the leader of the Conservative Party
Synonyms
principal,
president,
head,
chief,
boss (informal),
director,
manager,
chairperson,
captain,
chair,
premier,
governor,
commander,
superior,
ruler,
conductor,
controller,
counsellor,
supervisor,
superintendent,
big name,
big gun (informal),
chieftain,
bigwig (informal),
ringleader,
big shot (informal),
overseer,
big cheese (slang, old-fashioned),
big noise (informal),
big hitter (informal),
torchbearer,
number one,
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
in the sense of mainstay
Definition
a chief support
Fish and rice were the mainstays of their diet.
Synonyms
pillar,
backbone,
bulwark,
prop,
anchor,
buttress,
lynchpin,
chief support
Synonyms of 'pillar'
pillar
Explore 'pillar' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of obelisk
Definition
a four-sided stone pillar that tapers to a pyramid at the top
The obelisk was erected in his memory in 1812.
Synonyms
column,
shaft,
monument,
pillar,
monolith,
needle
in the sense of pier
Definition
a pillar or support that bears heavy loads
the cross-beams bracing the piers of the jetty
Synonyms
pillar,
support,
post,
column,
pile,
piling,
upright,
buttress
in the sense of post
Definition
a length of wood, metal, or concrete fixed upright to support or mark something
Eight wooden posts were driven into the ground.
Synonyms
support,
stake,
pole,
stock,
standard,
column,
pale,
shaft,
upright,
pillar,
picket,
palisade,
newel
in the sense of prop
Definition
something that gives rigid support, such as a pole
The timber is reinforced with three steel props on a concrete foundation.