pil·lar

pil·lar
/ˈpılɚ/ noun, pl -lars [count]
1 : a large post that helps to hold up something (such as a roof)
2 : someone who is an important member of a group
— + of

He is a pillar of the church/community.

a pillar of society

3 : a basic fact, idea, or principle of something
— + of

a central pillar of the theory

one of the five pillars of Islam

The right to vote is a pillar of democracy.

4 : something that rises into the air in a tall, thin shape

Pillars of smoke rose from the factory.

a pillar of rock

from pillar to post
chiefly Brit : from one place or one situation to another

His book has been passed from pillar to post, but no one wants to publish it.

He has been running from pillar to post his whole life.

: someone or something that gives support or help during difficult times

My husband was my/a pillar of strength during my mother's illness.

Religion was his pillar of strength after his wife died.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pil|lar — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cat|er|pil|lar — «KAT uhr PIHL uhr», noun. 1. the larva or wormlike form in which insects such as the butterfly and the moth hatch from the egg. 2. a) = caterpillar tractor. (Cf. ↑caterpillar tractor) b) any vehicle or machine that moves on endless belts or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • cat|er|pil|lar — «KAT uhr PIHL uhr», noun. 1. the larva or wormlike form in which insects such as the butterfly and the moth hatch from the egg. 2. a) = caterpillar tractor. (Cf. ↑caterpillar tractor) b) any vehicle or machine that moves on endless belts or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pu|pil|lar|y — pu|pil|lar|y1 «PYOO puh LEHR ee», adjective. belonging to a pupil, scholar, or ward. ╂[perhaps < Middle French pupillaire, learned borrowing from Latin pūpillāris < pūpillus pupil] pu|pil|lar|y2 «PYOO puh LEHR ee», adjective. of or having… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pu|pil|lar|i|ty — or pu|pi|lar|i|ty «PYOO puh LAR uh tee», noun. Law. the period between birth and puberty. ╂[< Middle French pupillarité, ultimately < Latin pūpillāris having to do with an orphan or minor] …   Useful english dictionary

  • in|ter|pu|pil|lar|y — «IHN tuhr PYOO puh LEHR ee», adjective. between the pupils of the eyes: »Interpupillary distance adjustable (Scientific American) …   Useful english dictionary

  • room-and-pil|lar — «ROOM uhn PIHL uhr, RUM », adjective. of or designating a system of mining coal in which a series of rooms is cut into the coal bed, in each of which the miners leave columns of coal standing to help support the roof until they mine out a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pil — pil·fer; pil·grim; pil·grim·age; pil·lage; pil·lar; pil·lion; pil·lory; pil·low; pu·pil; pu·pil·ar; pu·pil·lary; pil·as·trad·ed; pil·pul·is·tic; pil·sen·er; pu·pil·ate; pu·pil·lage; pu·pil·lize; pu·pil·lom·e·try; so·pa·pil·la; …   English syllables

  • cat·er·pil·lar — /ˈkætɚˌpılɚ/ noun, pl lars [count] : a small creature that is like a worm with many legs and that changes to become a butterfly or moth …   Useful english dictionary

  • lar — acap·su·lar; acel·lu·lar; ac·e·tab·u·lar; ac·e·tab·u·lar·ia; acic·u·lar; ac·i·no·tu·bu·lar; ad·mi·nic·u·lar; ad·u·lar·ia; ae·dic·u·lar; afla·gel·lar; aglo·mer·u·lar; agui·lar·ite; ali·vin·cu·lar; al·lar·gan·do; al·ve·o·lar·i·form; am·phi·sty·lar; …   English syllables

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