pedestal


Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to pedestal: put on a pedestal

ped·es·tal

 (pĕd′ĭ-stəl)
n.
1. An architectural support or base, as for a column or statue.
2. A support or foundation.
3. A position of high regard or adoration.
tr.v. ped·es·taled, ped·es·tal·ing, ped·es·tals or ped·es·talled or ped·es·tal·ling
To place on or provide with a pedestal.
[Obsolete French, from Italian piedistallo : piè, foot (from Latin pēs; see pedi-) + di, of (from Latin dē; see de-) + stallo, stall (of Germanic origin; see stel- in Indo-European roots).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pedestal

(ˈpɛdɪstəl)
n
1. (Architecture) a base that supports a column, statue, etc, as used in classical architecture
2. a position of eminence or supposed superiority (esp in the phrases place, put, or set on a pedestal)
3. (Furniture)
a. either of a pair of sets of drawers used as supports for a writing surface
b. (as modifier): a pedestal desk.
[C16: from French piédestal, from Old Italian piedestallo, from pie foot + di of + stallo a stall]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ped•es•tal

(ˈpɛd ə stl)

n., v. -taled, -tal•ing (esp. Brit.) -talled, -tal•ling. n.
1. an architectural support for a column, statue, vase, or the like.
2. a supporting structure or piece; base.
3. a columnar support, often flaring outward at the bottom, for a tabletop or chair seat.
v.t.
4. to put on or supply with a pedestal.
Idioms:
set or put on a pedestal, to glorify; idealize.
[1555–65; < Middle French piedestal < Italian piedestallo, variant of piedistallo literally, foot of stall. See pedi-, stall1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

pedestal

- Comes from Old Italian piedestallo, a conflation of pie de stallo, "foot of a stall."
See also related terms for stall.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.pedestal - a support or foundationpedestal - a support or foundation; "the base of the lamp"
stand, base
brass monkey - a metal stand that formerly held cannon balls on sailing ships
staddle - a base or platform on which hay or corn is stacked
support - any device that bears the weight of another thing; "there was no place to attach supports for a shelf"
trivet - a stand with short feet used under a hot dish on a table
trivet - a three-legged metal stand for supporting a cooking vessel in a hearth
2.pedestal - a position of great esteem (and supposed superiority); "they put him on a pedestal"
status, position - the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society; "he had the status of a minor"; "the novel attained the status of a classic"; "atheists do not enjoy a favorable position in American life"
3.pedestal - an architectural support or base (as for a column or statue)pedestal - an architectural support or base (as for a column or statue)
footstall, plinth
pillar, column - (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure
dado - the section of a pedestal between the base and the surbase
socle - a plain plinth that supports a wall
support - supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation; "the statue stood on a marble support"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

pedestal

noun support, stand, base, foot, mounting, foundation, pier, plinth, dado (Architecture), socle a bronze statue on a granite pedestal
put someone on a pedestal worship, dignify, glorify, exalt, idealize, ennoble, deify, apotheosize Since childhood, I put my parents on a pedestal.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
قَدَم الإنسان، قاعِدَة العَمود
podstavec
piedestal
talapzat
fótstallur
pjedestalas
pjedestāls

pedestal

[ˈpedɪstl]
A. N → pedestal m, basa f
to put sb on a pedestal → poner a algn sobre un pedestal
to knock sb off his pedestal → bajar los humos or el copete a algn
B. CPD pedestal basin N → lavabo m or lavamanos m inv con pie central
pedestal desk N → escritorio m con cajones a ambos lados
pedestal lamp N → lámpara f de pie
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

pedestal

[ˈpɛdɪstəl] n → piédestal m
to put sb on a pedestal → mettre qn sur un piédestal
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

pedestal

n → Sockel m; to put or set somebody (up) on a pedestal (fig) → jdn in den Himmel heben; to knock somebody off his pedestal (fig) → jdn von seinem Sockel stoßen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

pedestal

[ˈpɛdɪstl] n → piedistallo
to put sb on a pedestal (fig) → mettere qn su un piedistallo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

pedestal

(ˈpedistl) noun
the foot or base of a column, statue etc. The statue fell off its pedestal.pedestal
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
The Wieroo had seated him at a pedestal by himself, and as he sat waiting for what was next to transpire, he looked about him at the Wieroo in his immediate vicinity.
View in context
At last, being very angry, he took his image down from its pedestal and dashed it against the wall.
View in context
Shortly afterwards the Idol's worshippers held a great religious ceremony at the base of his pedestal, and as a part of the rites the Missionary was roasted whole.
View in context
Then my eye travelled along to the figure of the White Sphinx upon the pedestal of bronze, growing distinct as the light of the rising moon grew brighter.
View in context
"John Carter," he cried, "take your place upon the Pedestal of Truth to be judged impartially according to your acts and here to know the reward you have earned thereby." Then turning to and fro toward the audience he narrated the acts upon the value of which my reward was to be determined.
View in context
On the cloth being removed Don Antonio, taking Don Quixote by the hand, passed with him into a distant room in which there was nothing in the way of furniture except a table, apparently of jasper, resting on a pedestal of the same, upon which was set up, after the fashion of the busts of the Roman emperors, a head which seemed to be of bronze.
View in context
While this passed, Hester Prynne had been standing on her pedestal, still with a fixed gaze towards the stranger -- so fixed a gaze that, at moments of intense absorption, all other objects in the visible world seemed to vanish, leaving only him and her.
View in context
Why do you place me upon such a pedestal? Moreover, how could I come and visit you frequently?
View in context
Some little display in architecture had been made in constructing these frames and casings, which were surmounted with pediments, that bore each a little pedestal in its centre; on these pedestals were small busts in blacked plaster-of-Paris.
View in context
"Ah, look, genteelmen!--beautiful, grand,--bust Christopher Colombo!-- beautiful bust, beautiful pedestal!"
View in context
Falling - her veriest stepping-stone Shall form the pedestal of a throne - And who her sovereign?
View in context
If she had any sense of humour, it must amuse her that he should place her on a pedestal and worship her with such an honest idolatry, but even while she laughed she must have been pleased and touched.
View in context

Dictionary browser ?
Full browser ?