(1)1)(支撐建筑或作裝飾用的)柱子，立(支)柱 (upright post used in a building as a support or decoration) [C]： The hall is surrounded/The porch is supported by stone～s. 大廳周圍是石柱/門廊由石柱支撐?！纪絚olumn，post，support; 2)柱狀 (形)物 (thing like a pillar in shape) [C]： a～of smoke/flame/dust 煙/火/灰塵柱;
(2)棟梁，支柱(strong supporter of sth) [C]： a～of society社會(huì)的棟梁;a～of philosophy/freedom哲學(xué)/自由的支柱;a～of the church/community教會(huì)的支持者/社區(qū)的重要人物;a～of a club 俱樂部的臺(tái)柱子;a～of strength to sb 某人強(qiáng)有力的支持者;〖同〗support;
from pillar to post 走投無路，四處碰壁： He was driven from～to post in search of a job. 他到處碰壁，哪里都找不到工作。
→′pillar-box n (BrE) 郵(信)筒;
【辨異】pillar與column的區(qū)別見COLUMN。