3 results for: Rostrums

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ros·trum

Audio Help [ros-truh

m] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural -tra

Audio Help [-truh] Pronunciation Key, -trums.

1.	any platform, stage, or the like, for public speaking.

a pulpit.

3.	a beaklike projection from the prow of a ship, esp. one on an ancient warship for ramming an enemy ship; beak; ram.

4.	Roman Antiquity. (in the forum) the raised platform, adorned with the beaks of captured warships, from which orations, pleadings, etc., were delivered.

5.	Biology. a beaklike process or extension of some part; rostellum.

6.	British Theater. a raised platform or dais, esp. one with hinged sides that can be folded and stored within a relatively small space.

[Origin: 1570–80; < L rōstrum snout, bill, beak of a bird, ship's prow (in pl., speaker's platform), equiv. to rōd(ere) to gnaw, bite (cf. rodent) + -trum instrumental suffix, with dt > st

]

—Synonyms 1. stand, dais, podium, lectern.

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Rostrums

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ros·trum Audio Help (rŏs'trəm, rô'strəm) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. ros·trums or ros·tra (rŏs'trə, rô'strə)

A dais, pulpit, or other elevated platform for public speaking.
1. The curved, beaklike prow of an ancient Roman ship, especially a war galley.
2. The speaker's platform in an ancient Roman forum, which was decorated with the prows of captured enemy ships.
Biology A beaklike or snoutlike projection.

[Latin rōstrum, beak; see rēd- in Indo-European roots.]

ros'tral (-trəl) adj.

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