pillar
gb/pˈɪlɚ/ us/pˈɪlɚ/
B1
English
~ 7100
oszlop, pillér, támasz, oszlopos tag, alappillér, alapelv
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[a pillar] supports [a structure]
Six huge stone pillars support the roof of the temple.
Hat hatalmas kőoszlop tartja a templom tetejét.
They decided to keep the original brick pillars when renovating the warehouse.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy a raktár felújításakor megtartják az eredeti téglapilléreket.
The car crashed into a concrete pillar under the bridge.
Marble pillars lined the entrance hall of the hotel.
Workers reinforced the metal pillars to make the platform safer.
Learner examples
The old house has wooden pillars on the front porch.
A régi ház elülső verandáján faoszlopok vannak.
Two big pillars hold up the bridge.
Két nagy pillér tartja a hidat.
We stood between the tall pillars and took a photo.
The roof fell because one pillar broke.
They painted the white pillars a new color.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "pillar" with "pillow" because they sound similar. A "pillar" is a hard vertical support in a building, while a "pillow" is a soft cushion for your head.
Meaning
vertical column that supports weight
Collocations
stone pillar
|concrete pillar
|supporting pillar
|row of pillars
|bridge pillar
|massive pillar
Synonyms
column (The most common architectural term; almost fully interchangeable in technical and everyday use.)
|
post (A simpler, often smaller support; less grand or formal than a pillar.)
Antonyms
void (Refers to an empty space with no support, the opposite of a solid supporting structure.)
Themes
construction
|architecture
|engineering
|housing
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A tall, strong post or column that holds up part of a building or other structure.
A tall, vertical, usually cylindrical support that carries the weight of a building, bridge, or other structure.
NOUN
B2
2
támasz
B1
oszlopos tag
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is a pillar of [group/system]
She has been a pillar of the company for more than twenty years.
Már több mint húsz éve a cég oszlopos tagja.
Volunteers are the main pillars of this charity’s work.
Az önkéntesek e jótékonysági szervezet munkájának fő támaszai.
Independent media are a vital pillar of any democracy.
His grandmother was a pillar of the local church for decades.
Trust and transparency are key pillars of our organization.
Learner examples
She is a pillar of her family and helps everyone.
Ő a családja támasza, és mindenkinek segít.
Good teachers are pillars of a strong school.
A jó tanárok egy erős iskola fő támaszai.
Free speech is a pillar of a free country.
Our coach is the pillar of the team.
Honesty is one of the pillars of their friendship.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "pillar for the community" instead of the fixed phrase "pillar of the community." Use "of" when you talk about a pillar in this figurative sense.
Meaning
crucial person or thing giving support
Collocations
pillar of the community
|pillar of society
|pillar of democracy
|pillar of the team
|a pillar of strength
|pillar of support
Synonyms
mainstay (Stresses being the chief support or most important part of something.)
|
backbone (Emphasizes providing strength and structure to a group or system.)
Antonyms
liability (A person or thing that causes problems, the opposite of a strong and helpful support.)
Themes
society
|relationships
|business
|politics
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very important and reliable person or thing that helps keep a group or system strong.
A person or thing that is very important in supporting a group, organization, or system, especially by being reliable and strong.
NOUN
C1
3
alappillér
B2
alapelv
B2
Usage pattern:
the pillars of [system/idea]
Human rights are one of the central pillars of modern international law.
Az emberi jogok a modern nemzetközi jog központi alappillérei közé tartoznak.
The course explores the main pillars of Western philosophy.
A kurzus a nyugati filozófia fő alappilléreit vizsgálja.
Transparency and accountability are key pillars of good governance.
The five pillars of Islam define the basic acts of worship for Muslims.
Scientific thinking is a pillar of the school’s curriculum.
Learner examples
Honesty is a pillar of their company culture.
Az őszinteség a vállalati kultúrájuk egyik alappillére.
These rules are the main pillars of the program.
Ezek a szabályok a program fő alappillérei.
The book explains the three pillars of the theory.
Respect is a pillar of any good relationship.
The teacher talked about the pillars of our legal system.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "main pillars" and then give only one idea (for example, "The main pillars is respect"). Use plural "pillars" when you name more than one key idea, and singular "pillar" when you mention only one.
Meaning
fundamental principle or belief
Collocations
five pillars of Islam
|pillars of democracy
|pillars of faith
|pillars of sustainability
|pillars of the strategy
|pillars of our policy
Synonyms
foundation (Stresses being the base on which something is built, often used for ideas and systems.)
|
cornerstone (Highlights being the most important single principle on which everything else depends.)
Antonyms
detail (A small or less important part, the opposite of a core or fundamental principle.)
Themes
philosophy
|religion
|politics
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very important idea or rule that supports a system, like one of its main parts.
A basic principle, rule, or belief that is one of the most important parts of a system, organization, or belief structure.
NOUN
B2
4
oszlop
A2
Usage pattern:
[a pillar] of [smoke/fire/cloud/rock]
A dark pillar of smoke rose from the burning factory.
Sötét füstoszlop emelkedett az égő gyárból.
They watched a pillar of fire shoot up into the night sky.
Nézték, ahogy egy lángoszlop csap fel az éjszakai égbolt felé.
Strange rock pillars had been shaped by centuries of wind and rain.
A pillar of dust followed the truck along the dirt road.
The volcano sent a towering pillar of ash high into the atmosphere.
Learner examples
We saw a pillar of smoke above the city.
Füstoszlopot láttunk a város fölött.
A tall pillar of fire came from the oil well.
Magas lángoszlop csapott fel az olajkútból.
The storm left many small rock pillars on the beach.
A pillar of cloud moved across the sky.
The car made a pillar of dust on the dry road.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "line of smoke" when they mean a tall, rising mass. In this case, "pillar of smoke" or "column of smoke" is more natural.
Meaning
tall narrow mass of something
Collocations
pillar of smoke
|pillar of fire
|dust pillar
|rock pillar
|ice pillar
|pillar of cloud
Synonyms
column (Often used in the same way, especially for a tall narrow mass of smoke or air.)
|
tower (Suggests a tall, impressive vertical mass, but can sound more dramatic or literary.)
Antonyms
haze (Describes a wide, spread-out cloud, the opposite of a clear, narrow pillar shape.)
Themes
nature
|weather
|disasters
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A tall, narrow shape made of smoke, fire, cloud, rock, or another substance that rises up into the air.
A tall, narrow, often vertical mass of something such as smoke, fire, cloud, or rock.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pillar
IPA
GB/pˈɪlɚ/
US/pˈɪlɚ/
Syllables & stress
pil - lar (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pil)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pillar
- Plural: pillars
Word family
Forms
pillars
noun
Related words
pillared
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
pillarless
adjective
Expressions
a pillar of strength
1/ə pˈɪlɚ əv stɹˈɛŋθ/
idiom
very supportive person in hardship
Someone who gives you a lot of help and emotional support when life is very difficult.
Examples
- She was a pillar of strength for her children after the accident.
- During the crisis, his best friend became a pillar of strength.
from pillar to post
2/fɹˈʌm pˈɪlɚ tə pˈoʊst/
idiom
sent repeatedly without help
To be sent again and again to different people or places, and still not get the help or answer you need.
Examples
- When she tried to complain, the company sent her from pillar to post.
- We were passed from pillar to post between different departments all afternoon.
pillar of democracy
5/pˈɪlɚ əv dɪmˈɑkɹəsi/
fixed phrase
essential element of democracy
A very important part or principle that helps a democracy work, such as free elections or free media.
Examples
- An independent judiciary is a pillar of democracy.
- Free and fair elections are widely seen as a pillar of democracy.
pillar of faith
6/pˈɪlɚ əv fˈeɪθ/
fixed phrase
key belief in a religion
A very important belief or practice that helps to hold a religion or faith system together.
Examples
- Love for others is a pillar of faith in many religions.
- Prayer is described as a pillar of faith in the text.
pillar of fire
8/pˈɪlɚ əv fˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
literary
tall narrow mass of fire
A tall, narrow shape made of fire that rises up into the air.
Examples
- A pillar of fire lit up the night sky above the burning refinery.
- They saw a pillar of fire shoot up as the rocket launched.
pillar of smoke
7/pˈɪlɚ əv smˈoʊk/
fixed phrase
tall narrow mass of smoke
A tall, narrow shape made of smoke that goes up into the air.
Examples
- A thick pillar of smoke rose from the burning building.
- They could see a pillar of smoke on the horizon after the explosion.
pillar of society
3/pˈɪlɚ əv səsˈaɪəti/
idiom
very respectable member of society
A person who is seen as very good, honest, and important in normal social life.
Examples
- In public he was a pillar of society, but at home he treated his family badly.
- They described her as a pillar of society for her decades of public service.
pillar of the community
4/pˈɪlɚ əv ðə kəmjˈunɪti/
idiom
highly respected local person
A person who is very respected in a town or area and does a lot of good work for other people there.
Examples
- After years of volunteering at the school and hospital, she became known as a pillar of the community.
- The mayor called him a pillar of the community at the award ceremony.
the five pillars of Islam
9/ðə fˈaɪv pˈɪlɚz əv ˈɪzləm/
fixed phrase
five basic duties in Islam
The five main religious duties that every Muslim should follow, such as prayer and fasting.
Examples
- In religion class we learned about the five pillars of Islam.
- The book explains how Muslims follow the five pillars of Islam in daily life.