pillar

pil·lar (pil′ər)

noun

a long, slender, vertical structure used to support a superstructure; column
such a column standing alone as a monument
anything like a pillar in form or function, as a formation of ore left standing as a support in a mine
a person who is a main support of an institution, movement, etc.

Etymology: ME piler < OFr < VL *pilare < L pila, column

transitive verb

to support or brace with or as with pillars

from pillar to post

from one predicament, place of appeal, etc. to another, usually under harassment

Object

portico: Sedan chairs, escorted by servants bearing flambeaux, deposited their occupants within the pillared portico.

Converse of object

carve: Inside the lower hall, the original front door is still there, complete with the carved stone pillars.
erect: The old form of gateway used to be made by erecting two granite pillars either side of the required entrance.

Converse of subject

flank: The central doorway on the east front is flanked by Tuscan pillars against a rusticated surround and has a pediment above.

Adjective modifier

trig: Surprisingly, there is no trig pillar, just a simple cairn.
octagonal: The aisle is separated from the nave by five large bays, resting on octagonal pillars.
Corinthian: There is an impressive entrance with two Corinthian pillars.
fluted: Grinling Gibbons decorated the interior with carved panels, graceful fluted Corinthian pillars, friezes and statues.
slender: It's a huge, handsome building with a central ring of slender iron pillars supporting a pointed roof.
cast-iron: The interior of the mill has stone-flagged floors supported by Victorian cast-iron pillars and low brick arches with iron hoops.

Modifies a noun

Noun used with modifier

triangulation: A grassy rake cuts across the fractured eastern face to emerge just below the triangulation pillar.
windscreen: A Golf with deeper flanks, a steeper bonnet pulled up by the windscreen pillars.
marble: The hall of the house is impressive with two marble pillars giving an instant impression of grandeur.
granite: The old form of gateway used to be made by erecting two granite pillars either side of the required entrance.
basalt: Like Solomon's in Layout The two basalt pillars in the porch had no structural purpose.
sandstone: The most distinguishable of the circles consists of three upright red sandstone pillars, the tallest of which is just over 18 feet high.

Preposition: of

cloud: That is the modern day iconic pillar of cloud.
salt: Not that pillar of salt, in mind, in which five years ago you fixed our fears of looking behind.

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