pillar

UK: /ˈpɪlə^r/ US: /ˈpɪlɚ/ ,(pil′ər)

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

pil•lar /ˈpɪlɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Architecture an upright, tall, narrow shaft used as a building support, or standing alone, as for a monument.
2. anything resembling this in shape:
   a pillar of smoke.
3. a person important to or a supporter of a town, organization, etc.:
   a pillar of the community.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pil•lar  (pil′ər), n. 

1. Architecture 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. Time [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. Naval Terms [Naut.] mast¹ (def. 2).
8. from pillar to post:
   • Idioms aimlessly from place to place.
   • Idioms uneasily from one bad situation or predicament to another.

v.t. 

9. to provide or support with pillars.

• Medieval Latin, as above
• Old French
• Medieval Latin pīlāre (see pile¹, -ar²); replacing earlier piler
• Middle English pillare 1175–1225

pil′lared, adj. 
pil′lar•like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. pilaster, pier. See column. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pillar / 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 ⇒ from one place to another

verb

1. (transitive) to support with or as if with pillars

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French pilier, from Latin pīla; see pile¹