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obelisk definition

ob·elisk (äb′ə lisk, ō′bə-)

noun

  1. a tall, slender, four-sided stone pillar tapering toward its pyramidal top
  2. dagger (sense )

Etymology: L obeliscus < Gr obeliskos, a small spit, obelisk, dim. of obelos: see obelus

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

obelisk Synonyms

obelisk

n.

pillar, needle, shaft, monolith; see column 1, tower.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

obelisk Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • mark: The spot where he, and many others, died so cruelly is today marked by a memorial obelisk.

Converse of object

  • erect: How did the Egyptians erect 100 foot granite obelisks?

Adjective modifier

  • Egyptian: The first century BC, Egyptian obelisk was brought to Rome from Heliopolis by emperor Caligula to adorn his circus.

Preposition: on

  • top: At the corners of the roof are stone piers with carved obelisks on top.

Noun used with modifier

  • granite: A 60 ft granite obelisk at the city center end of the Park is a memorial to Samuel Smith who died in 1906.
obelisk 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.

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MLA Style

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

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

APA Style

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

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

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