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pilaster
noun
pi·las·ter
pi-ˈla-stər
ˈpī-ˌla-
: an upright architectural member that is rectangular in plan and is structurally a pier but architecturally treated as a column and that usually projects a third of its width or less from the wall
Examples of pilaster in a Sentence
the rectangular pilasters spaced along the building's facade lend an air of classical grandeur
Recent Examples on the Web
At the southern terminus of Rossmore Avenue at Wilshire Boulevard, unceremoniously sandwiched between a couple of unremarkable low-rise office buildings stand two huge stone towers embellished with flamboyant Corinthian pilasters that mark the entrance to L.A.’s first gated community.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
Each section of the building’s exterior is paired with a layer of terra-cotta pilasters that don both the east and west façades of the tower, giving it a glamorous aged feel without overdoing it.
—Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024
Highlights of the home include a fireside grand salon, an art gallery that doubles as a safe room, and a movie theater festooned with black marble fluted pilasters and red velvet seats.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2024
On small pilasters sit 200-pound beach balls, cast in bronze and painted to match the room.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 3 July 2024
Made of red sandstone, the pilaster depicts the Hindu god Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana, a sacred site in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.
—News Desk, Artforum, 20 June 2024
The 12th-century fragment of a pilaster, or a rectangular architectural column in the side of a doorframe, was previously believed to have originated from Cambodia.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 18 June 2024
In the building’s northeast corner, a 2,400-square-foot fifth-floor spread, entered by way of a landmarked vestibule, exudes Gilded Age opulence with landmarked walls lined with mahogany pilasters, intricate moldings, ornate plaster ceilings, and massive arched windows.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2023
Still, Palais Royal, which got its name for its pink marble pilasters on its facade, features many modern updates and modifications.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023
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Word History
Etymology
Middle French pilastre, from Italian pilastro
First Known Use
1573, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pilaster
Cite this Entry
“Pilaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilaster. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
pilaster
noun
pi·las·ter
ˈpī-ˌlas-tər
: an upright rectangular column that ornaments or helps to support a wall from which it sticks out slightly
Medical Definition
pilaster
noun
pi·las·ter
pi-ˈlas-tər
: an elongated hardened ridge
especially
: a longitudinal bony ridge on the back of the femur
More from Merriam-Webster on pilaster
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pilaster
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