pillar

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English piler, from Old French pilier, from Medieval Latin or Vulgar Latin *pilāre (“a pillar”), from Latin pila (“a pillar, pier, mole”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpɪlə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɪlɚ/ (South Asia) IPA(key): /ˈpɪllə(r)/ Rhymes: -ɪlə(ɹ) Hyphenation: pil‧lar === Noun === pillar (plural pillars) (architecture) A large post, often used as supporting architecture. Something resembling such a structure. (figuratively) An essential part of something that provides support. (Roman Catholicism) A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church. The centre of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns. (bodybuilding) The body from the hips over the core to the shoulders. (geology) A vertical, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation. ==== Synonyms ==== column, sile ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === pillar (third-person singular simple present pillars, present participle pillaring, simple past and past participle pillared) (transitive) To provide with pillars or added strength as if from pillars. === See also === caterpillar === Further reading === “pillar”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “pillar”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “pillar”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “pillar”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. === Anagrams === Aprill == Catalan == === Etymology === Borrowed from French piller. The sense of "grab" is from Italian pigliare, either via direct borrowing or through the mediation of Spanish pillar. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central, Northwestern) [piˈʎa] IPA(key): (Valencia) [piˈʎaɾ] Rhymes: -a(ɾ) === Verb === pillar (first-person singular present pillo, first-person singular preterite pillí, past participle pillat) (transitive) to pillage, plunder, loot (transitive, colloquial) to snatch, grab Synonyms: agafar, prendre ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== pillada pillatge ==== Related terms ==== pillard === Further reading === “pillar”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “pillar”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026 == Portuguese == === Noun === pillar m (plural pillares) pre-reform spelling (used until 1943 in Brazil and 1911 in Portugal) of pilar == Spanish == === Etymology === Probably borrowed from Italian pigliare or French piller. Compare also Portuguese pilhar and English pillage. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: -aɾ Syllabification: pi‧llar === Verb === pillar (first-person singular present pillo, first-person singular preterite pillé, past participle pillado) to catch, get, to grab (e.g. grab a cab, get lunch, grab a drink, catch a movie) to pilfer, steal (games) to tag (colloquial) to get (a joke) (colloquial) to catch, to catch up to (colloquial) to catch, to pick up, to bust, to nab (someone doing something illegal) Synonyms: atrapar, sorprender (colloquial) to come down with, catch, to pick up (an illness) (colloquial) to pick up on, to take (e.g. information, a hint) (Spain, colloquial) to score (e.g. drugs) (colloquial, reflexive) to jam (your finger) (colloquial, reflexive) to fall in love, to crush on someone ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== See also ==== agarrar asir === Further reading === “pillar”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 == Swedish == === Noun === pillar indefinite plural of pille === Verb === pillar present indicative of pilla === Anagrams === prilla