Dictionary
pil•lar
Pronunciation: (pil'ur), [key]—
n.
1. an upright shaft or structure, of stone, brick, or other material, relatively slender in proportion to its height, and of any shape in section, used as a building support, or standing alone, as for a monument:
Gothic pillars; a pillar to commemorate Columbus.
2. a natural formation resembling such a construction:
a pillar of rock; a pillar of smoke.
3. any upright, supporting part; post:
the pillar of a table.
4. a person who is a chief supporter of a society, state, institution, etc.:
a pillar of the community.
5. Horol.any of several short parts for spacing and keeping in the proper relative positions two plates holding the bearings of a watch or clock movement.
6. Mining.an isolated mass of rock or ore in a mine, usually serving as a roof support in early operations and later removed, wholly or in part.
7. Naut.mast
1 (def. 2).
8. from pillar to post,
a. aimlessly from place to place.
b. uneasily from one bad situation or predicament to another.
—
v.t.
to provide or support with pillars.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
