rostrum

UK: /ˈrɒstrəm/ US: /ˈrɑstrəm/ ,(ros′trəm)

Inflections of 'rostrum' (n):

rostra

npl

rostrums

npl

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ros•trum /ˈrɑstrəm/   n. [countable] , pl. -trums, -tra /-trə/.  

1. any platform, stage, or the like, for public speaking.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ros•trum  (ros′trəm), n., pl. -tra (-trə), -trums. 

1. any platform, stage, or the like, for public speaking.
2. a pulpit.
3. a beaklike projection from the prow of a ship, esp. one on an ancient warship for ramming an enemy ship;
   beak;
   ram.
4. Antiquity [Rom. Antiq.] (in the forum) the raised platform, adorned with the beaks of captured warships, from which orations, pleadings, etc., were delivered.
5. Biology, Zoology a beaklike process or extension of some part;
   rostellum.
6. Show Business [Brit. Theat.] a raised platform or dais, esp. one with hinged sides that can be folded and stored within a relatively small space.

• Latin rōstrum snout, bill, beak of a bird, ship's prow (in plural, speaker's platform), equivalent. to rōd(ere) to gnaw, bite (compare rodent) + -trum instrumental suffix, with dt st
• 1570–80

Synonyms

• 1. stand, dais, podium, lectern.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rostrum / ˈrɒstrəm/ noun ( -trums, -tra / -trə/)

1. any platform, stage, or dais on which public speakers stand to address an audience
2. a platform or dais in front of an orchestra on which the conductor stands
3. another word for ram5
4. the prow or beak of an ancient Roman ship
5. a beak or beaklike part

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin rōstrum beak, ship's prow, from rōdere to nibble, gnaw; in plural, rōstra, orator's platform, because this platform in the Roman forum was adorned with the prows of captured ships