obelisk

[ ob-uh-lisk ]
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noun
  1. a tapering, four-sided shaft of stone, usually monolithic and having a pyramidal apex.

  2. something resembling such a shaft.

  1. an obelus.

  2. Printing. dagger (def. 2).

Origin of obelisk

1
1540–50; <Latin obeliscus<Greek obelískos small spit, equivalent to obel(ós) spit, pointed pillar + -iskos diminutive suffix

Other words from obelisk

  • ob·e·lis·cal, adjective
  • ob·e·lis·koid, adjective

Words Nearby obelisk

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How to use obelisk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obelisk

obelisk

/ (ˈɒbɪlɪsk) /


noun
  1. a stone pillar having a square or rectangular cross section and sides that taper towards a pyramidal top, often used as a monument in ancient Egypt

  2. printing another name for dagger (def. 2)

Origin of obelisk

1
C16: via Latin from Greek obeliskos a little spit, from obelos spit

Derived forms of obelisk

  • obeliscal, adjective
  • obeliskoid, adjective

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