pillar

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A slender, freestanding, vertical support; a column.
2. n. Such a structure or one similar to it used for decoration.
3. n. One who occupies a central or responsible position: a pillar of the state.
4. v. To support or decorate with pillars or a pillar.
5. idiom. from pillar to post From one place to another; hither and thither.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A column; a columnar mass of any form, often composed, or having the appearance of being composed, of several shafts engaged in a central core, as is frequent in medieval architecture: by architects often distinguished from column, inasmuch as it may be of any shape in section, and is not subordinated to the rules of classic architecture. See also cuts under latand column.
2. n. A support or supporter; one who or that which sustains or upholds.
3. n. The upright and supporting part of something, as of a table having but one support, or of a candlestick.
4. n. In anatomy and zoology, a pillar-like or columnar structure, part, or organ; a column or columella; a crus: as, the pillar (columella or modiolus) of a spiral shell; the pillars (crura or peduncles) of the brain. See cut under Discophora.
5. n. One of the posts which serve to connect the plates of a clock-movement, and also to keep them the necessary distance apart.
6. n. In the manège, the raised center of the ring or manège-ground around which a horse turns. There are also pillars at regular intervals around the ground.
7. n. A portable emblem in the form of ornamented column, formerly carried before an ecclesiastical dignitary as typical of his function as a support to the church.
8. n. Something resembling a pillar in appearance.
9. n. A solid mass of coal left either temporarily or permanently to support the roof of a mine.
10. n. In harp-making, the upright post on the side furthest from the player. It is usually hollow, and contains the rods of the pedal-action.
11. n. A frame for supporting tobacco-pipes in a kiln.
12. n. The nipple of a firearm.
13. n. In ship-building, a column which supports a deck-beam in the interior of a vessel. Such columns are cylindrical, hollow or solid, or they may be built up of plates and bars. They are shaped at the heads and heels so that they can be securely riveted to the beam or the plating of the deck or hold. A hold-pillar is one which extends between the inner bottom or top of the frame floors to the lowest tier of deck-beams. A deck-pillar extends between two decks. A center-line pillar is on the center-line of the vessel. A quarter-pillar is midway between the center-line and the side. Also called deck-stanchions and beam-stanchions.

Wiktionary

1. n. A large post, often used as supporting architecture.
2. n. Something resembling such a structure.
3. n. An essential part of something that provides support.
4. v. To provide with pillars or added strength as if from pillars.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament.
2. n. Figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay
3. n. (R. C. Ch.), obsolete A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.
4. n. (Man.) The center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns.
5. adj. (Mach.) Having a support in the form of pillar, instead of legs.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)
2. n. (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure
3. n. anything that approximates the shape of a column or tower
4. n. a prominent supporter
5. n. a fundamental principle or practice