obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈä-bə-ˌlisk 

also ˈō-

1

: an upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid

2

a

: obelus

b

: dagger sense 2b

Illustration of obelisk

• obelisk 1

Examples of obelisk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The section of the wall that police broke through to rescue those trapped inside Pulse—the breach wall—will be embedded beneath the obelisk. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Projected on an obelisk, this narrowest of histories prefigured the commemorative distortions to follow. —Greg Allen, ARTnews.com, 7 June 2026

The structure can be a homemade or a commercial trellis, arch, obelisk, or lattice wall. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 May 2026

Since then, the white obelisk has received many spectacular games. —George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin obeliscus "four-sided pillar," borrowed from Greek obelískos "skewer, four-sided pillar," diminutive of obelós "spit, four-sided pillar" — more at obelus

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for obelisk

• basilisk
• bisque
• brisk
• disc
• disk
• fisc
• fisk
• frisk
• risk
• whisk
• videodisc

Kids Definition

obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈäb-ə-ˌlisk 

: a four-sided pillar that becomes narrower toward the top and ends in a pyramid