— pillared , adj. — pillarlike , adj.
/pil"euhr/ , 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.
9. to provide or support with pillars.
[ 1175-1225; ME pillare pilare (see PILE 1 , -AR 2 ); r. earlier piler ]
Syn. 1. pilaster, pier. See column .