monolith

== English == === Etymology === The noun is borrowed from French monolithe (“object made from a single block of stone”), from Middle French monolythe (“made from a single block of stone”) (rare), and from their etymon Latin monolithus (“made from a single block of stone”), from Ancient Greek μονόλιθος (monólithos, “made from a single block of stone”), from μονο- (mono-, prefix meaning ‘alone; single’) (from μόνος (mónos, “alone; only, unique”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“little, small”)) + λίθος (líthos, “a stone; stone as a substance”); analysable as mono- +‎ -lith. The English word is cognate with German monolith (“made from a single block of stone”). The verb is derived from the noun. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmɒn.ə.lɪθ/, /ˈmɒn.lɪθ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmɑn.əˌlɪθ/ Rhymes: -ɒnəlɪθ, -ɒnlɪθ, -ɑnəlɪθ Hyphenation: mo‧no‧lith === Noun === monolith (plural monoliths) (also attributively) A large, single block of stone which is a natural feature; or a block of stone or other similar material used in architecture and sculpture, especially one carved into a monument in ancient times. Antonym: polylith Hyponyms: menhir, orthostat (also attributively and figurative) Anything massive, uniform, and unmovable, especially a towering and impersonal cultural, political, or social organization or structure. Antonym: chimera (chemistry) A substrate having many tiny channels that is cast as a single piece, which is used as a stationary phase for chromatography, as a catalytic surface, etc. (UK, horticulture) A dead tree whose height and size have been reduced by breaking off or cutting its branches. ==== Derived terms ==== monolithal monolithic monolithically monolithism ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === monolith (third-person singular simple present monoliths, present participle monolithing, simple past and past participle monolithed) (transitive) To create (something) as, or convert (one or more things) into, a monolith. (construction) To cast (one or more concrete components) in a single piece with no joints. (UK, horticulture) To reduce the height and size of (a dead tree) by breaking off or cutting its branches. ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === monolith on Wikipedia.Wikipedia monolith (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia