pylon
/ˈpʌɪlən
/ /ˈpʌɪlɒn/noun
1A tall tower-like structure used for carrying electricity cables high above the ground.A spokeswoman said: ‘The owl is perched on one of our high voltage electricity pylons.’...
- Bandits and looters continue to bring down pylons carrying high voltage cables out in the desert road.
- Concerns are also growing over the pylons needed to carry electricity from remote parts of the Highlands and the Borders.
1.1A tower or post marking a path for light aircraft, cars, or other vehicles, especially in racing.The room had already been lit by moveable light pylons, a leftover from when Wily had first set up operations there....
- Swing left here and follow the path under pylons with the wall on the left.
- Flickering to life, a small light shone from the pylon's centre as the Head Lorekeeper heard a familiar voice in her mind.
2A pillar-like structure on the wing of an aircraft used for carrying an engine, weapon, fuel tank, or other load.The answer to the problem was to hang immense fuel tanks from underwing pylons....
- Each wing carries four stores pylons: three outboard and one inboard of the wheel fairing.
- External fuel tanks can be carried on the pylons under the wings and jettisoned if necessary.
3A monumental gateway to an ancient Egyptian temple formed by two truncated pyramidal towers.But only the next morning could we fathom the magnificence of the temple with its huge pylons and obelisks....
- Both stand guard over a giant pylon of the mortuary temple of Amenophis the Third.
- But as she walked between the huge pylons of the temple, Miri's soul shrivelled inside her.
4North American A plastic cone used to mark areas of roads.Ata was quick to jump over the edge and grab the cone pylon in her mouth....
- The driver died after flying over a bump in the road and hitting a pylon which collapsed on to spectators.
- There are a handful of environments to race in, with various tracks - marked by arrows and pylons - to conquer.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek pulōn, from pulē 'gate'.