monolith Hear it!

monolith definition

mono·lith (män′ə lit̸h′)

noun

  1. a single large block or piece of stone, as in architecture or sculpture
  2. something made of a single block of stone, as an obelisk
  3. something like a monolith in size, unity of structure or purpose, unyielding quality

Etymology: Fr monolithe < L monolithus < Gr monolithos, made of one stone < monos, single (see mono-) + lithos, stone

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

monolith Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • know: I had never seen it before and somehow I knew this weedy monolith must mark the lair of Decay.

Adjective modifier

  • giant: The people quite rightly mistrust the giant bureaucratic monolith which is Brussels.

Modifies a noun

  • tin: Samples were taken for pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating using monolith tins ( Figs 5 and 6 ).

Noun used with modifier

  • granite: Brandberg Mountain is an ancient Bushman spiritual site and tonight we will sleep under the shadow of this giant granite monolith.
monolith usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"monolith." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/monolith>

APA Style

monolith. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/monolith

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment