monolith Definition
mono·lith (män′ə lit̸h′)
noun
- a single large block or piece of stone, as in architecture or sculpture
- something made of a single block of stone, as an obelisk
- 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
monolith Related Forms
mon′o·lith′ic adjective
mon′o·lith′·ism′ noun
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.
- see: Seeing the whole monolith was truly awesome in the best sense of the word.
- carve: Apart from this, the act of hammering and carving these strange monoliths also injects a form of energy which will be discussed later.
- discover: Weren't we supposed to be discovering strange monoliths on the moon by this stage - there goes Arthur C. Clarke's scientific credibility!
Adjective modifier
- giant: The people quite rightly mistrust the giant bureaucratic monolith which is Brussels.
- concrete: At one point, quite unsigned, by a Sustrans marker, is a big concrete monolith.
- huge: You will arrive at a huge art decor monolith.
- massive: In Orkney, massive monoliths are dragged many miles from different sources to compose a circle.
- ancient: A very ancient monolith in the graveyard is inscribed in Latin and is of archeological interest.
- black: Then, one day, a black monolith appears.
Modifies a noun
- tin: Samples were taken for pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating using monolith tins ( Figs 5 and 6 ).
- marker: The junction is marked by a monolith marker stone.
- stone: The junction is marked by a monolith marker stone.
- sample: Nineteen samples were taken with additional monolith samples added from the area adjacent to the river.
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.
- sandstone: This is a giant sandstone monolith rising nearly 400 meters above the surrounding desert.
- stone: It's a look of bemused wonder mirrored only by the enigmatic stone monoliths of Easter Island.
- rock: Active volcanoes, ice fluted pyramids and immense rock monoliths are just a few examples of what this fantastic continent has to offer.
- limestone: The two blue limestone monoliths dominate the domestic setting in the Glebelands area.
- slate: A slate monolith was very generously donated by McAlpine Slate Ltd. from the Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda.
Browse dictionary entries near monolith
- ‹ monolingual
- ‹ monolayer
- ‹ monohydroxy
- ‹ monohydric
- ‹ monohydrate
- ‹ monohull
- ‹ monogyny
- ‹ monogynous
- ‹ monograph
- ‹ monogram
- monolithic ›
- monologue ›
- monomania ›
- monomer ›
- monomerous ›
- monometallic ›
- monometallism ›
- monomial ›
- monomode fiber ›
- monomolecular ›

