pilastro

pillar

noun pee-LAHS-troh Rare

Origin: From Latin pilastrum, a variant of pila (pillar, pier).

Also means

cornerstone

Usage Note

Pilastro refers to a structural pillar or pier, as distinct from colonna (a round column). Figuratively it means a cornerstone or mainstay: il pilastro della famiglia (the pillar of the family). The plural is pilastri.

Examples

"Il tetto è sorretto da quattro pilastri in pietra."

Natural Translation

The roof is supported by four stone pillars.

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