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pillar

pillar

45 4.4
A main idea or practice that supports something important, like society
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪlər/
translation icon : pilar
  • By all accounts, Mr. Reed was an upstanding pillar of the community, earned two master's degrees by the age of 21.
  • a pillar of democracy
  • pillars of Islam
  • rests on pillars

That's that's the three pillars of the recovery of Europe.

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Examples

  • So prayer is the central pillar, if you will, of Islam.

  • These are all important parts of this pillar of health and happiness.

  • And the core, the core pillar of that is your time.

  • My parents are the pillar of health.

  • You were a pillar of strength.

  • A focus on the gene will continue to be a major pillar of biology.

    Academic text (2013)
  • For the foreseeable future, cash will thus remain a pillar of the nation's economy.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The demand for and belief in freedoms is a pillar in our country.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Social transformation and individual development are the twin pillars of our social future.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Prayer is a central pillar of many religions, providing guidance and support to believers.

Synonyms

cornerstone
vspillar
46 5.3

A very important idea or part that something depends on

is a basic support that can be one of several, not the single base
the pillar of
vspillar
33 4.8

A main thing that supports and keeps something strong

is the same meaning but used as a phrase with of
keystone
vspillar
6 5.1

The most important part that holds other parts together in a system

is a supporting element that may not be the single most important part

Idioms

33 4.8

A main thing that supports and keeps something strong

1 7.4

Get sent to many different places by other people without getting help

Move quickly from place to place trying to solve many urgent problems

A person who is moved from one person or office to another without getting help

Compounds

One of five main religious duties every Muslim must follow

2 4.1

A person who gives strong, steady support to others in hard times

7.1

A tall red box on the street for posting letters

How Fundamental

cornerstone
46 5.3
pillar
45 4.4
tenet
66 6.7
element
3.0
component
447 3.4

Surface Forms

pillar singular
pillars plural

Etymology

Pillar comes from the idea of a strong support (from Latin pila 'post'), so a 'pillar' of a system is a basic idea or practice that helps 'hold up' that system, like a pillar holds up a building.