an upright stone slab or pillar engraved with an inscription or design and used as a monument, grave marker, etc.
Archit. a prepared surface, as on a facade, having an inscription, carved design, etc.
Bot. a central cylinder of vascular tissues in the stems and roots of plants
Origin:
L stela < Gr stēlē, post, slab < IE base *stel- > still
See stele in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
also ste·la(stēˈlə)pl.steles also ste·lae(-lē) An upright stone or slab with an inscribed or sculptured surface, used as a monument or as a commemorative tablet in the face of a building.
stele(stēl, stēˈlē) The central core of tissue in the stem or root of a vascular plant, consisting of the xylem and phloem together with supporting tissues.
Origin:
Origin: Greek stēlē, pillar; see stel- in Indo-European roots