What does pillar mean?
Word: Pillar
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Pillar means a tall, strong post, usually of stone, that holds up part of a building or stands alone as a monument.
Synonyms: column, post
How do you spell pillar?
Syllables: pil - lar
Tricky part: The ending is a quick, weak sound, but it is spelt ar, not er or or. Piller is the slip most children make.
Watch out for: piller, pillor
Memory tip: A pillar stands tall like a capital A holding up a roof: the last vowel is a.
Pillar in a sentence
Example 1: The porch of our old school is held up by four white pillars.
Example 2: Pigeons nest on the carved pillars of the old palace.
Example 3: During hide-and-seek, Noah stood behind a pillar in the corridor.
Fun Fact
The Iron Pillar of Delhi, more than 1,600 years old, has stood in the open air for centuries with very little rust.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the misspelt word:
a) cellar
b) dollar
c) pilar
d) collar
Show answer
c) pilar. The stone post doubles its l, just as cellar, collar and dollar do.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with pillar?
a) caterpillar
b) filler
c) pillow
d) miller
Show answer
c) pillow. Pillow ends with an 'oh' sound; filler, caterpillar and miller all finish the way pillar does.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) ceiling : ceilings
b) chimney : chimnies
c) pillar : pillars
d) arch : arches
Show answer
b) chimney : chimnies. A word ending in a vowel and y just adds s, so the plural is chimneys; the other pairs are right.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its meaning:
1. pillar 2. beam 3. dome a. an upright support standing on the floor b. a rounded roof shaped like half a ball c. a long piece of wood or metal lying across a ceiling
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b. A pillar stands up, a beam lies across, and a dome curves over the top.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Calling someone 'a pillar of the community' means that he or she ___.
a) is the tallest person in town
b) never leaves the house
c) helps and supports many people
d) always stands in one place
Show answer
c) helps and supports many people
2. A pillar is closest in shape to ___.
a) a round dinner plate
b) a tall candle standing upright
c) a rolled-out mat
d) a flat floor tile
Show answer
b) a tall candle standing upright
