- The definition of a pedestal is a foot, base or support for a column, pillar or lamp.
An example of a pedestal is a pillar on which a piece of art is displayed.
Flowers on a pedestal.
pedestal
noun
- the foot or bottom support of a column or pillar
- a similar base on a lamp, statue, etc.
- a columnlike stand for displaying a piece of sculpture or other decorative article
Origin of pedestal
French piédestal ; from Italian piedestallo ; from piè (; from Classical Latin pes), foot + di, of + stal (; from Germanic an unverified form stal, stall), a rest, placetransitive verb
pedestaled or pedestalled, pedestaling or pedestalling to place on or furnish with a pedestal
pedestal Idioms
pedestal
noun
- An architectural support or base, as for a column or statue.
- A support or foundation.
- A position of high regard or adoration.
transitive verb
ped·es·taled, ped·es·tal·ing, ped·es·tals or ped·es·talled or ped·es·tal·ling To place on or provide with a pedestal.
Origin of pedestal
Obsolete French, from Italian piedistallo : piè, foot (from Latin pēs; see pedi–) + di, of (from Latin dē; see de–) + stallo, stall (of Germanic origin; see stel- in Indo-European roots).pedestal
Noun
(plural pedestals)
- (architecture) The base or foot of a column, statue, vase, lamp, or the like; the part on which an upright work stands.
- (figuratively) A place of reverence or honor.
- He has put his mother on a pedestal. You can't say a word against her.
- (rail transport) A casting secured to the frame of a truck of a railcar and forming a jaw for holding a journal box.
- (machining) A pillow block; a low housing.
- (bridge building) An iron socket, or support, for the foot of a brace at the end of a truss where it rests on a pier.
- (steam heating) a pedestal coil, group of connected straight pipes arranged side by side and one above another, used in a radiator.
Verb
(third-person singular simple present pedestals, present participle pedestaling, simple past and past participle pedestaled)
- To set or support on (as if on) a pedestal.
Origin
From Middle French piédestal, from Italian piedistallo (pie "foot" di "of" stall "stand") "footstall".
Pedestal