pillar

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a person or an idea that is a very important and reliable part of something.

n. a person or abstract principle that provides essential support or stability to a community, system, or organisation.

“My grandmother was a pillar of the local community for over fifty years.”

“Freedom of the press is often described as a fundamental pillar of a healthy democratic society.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical

n. a tall, thin piece of rock that stands alone, often created by wind or water.

n. a vertical, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation resulting from erosion or volcanic activity.

“The hikers stopped to photograph the strange rock pillars rising from the desert floor.”

“The coastal landscape is defined by dramatic sandstone pillars that have been isolated from the mainland by centuries of wave erosion.”

C2 · Proficiency Formal

v. to provide a building or structure with pillars for strength.

v. to provide with pillars or to strengthen a structure as if with vertical supports.

“The engineers decided to pillar the old bridge to prevent it from collapsing.”

“The vaulted ceiling was pillared with reinforced concrete to ensure the stability of the cathedral's expanded nave.”