obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈä-bə-ˌlisk How to pronounce obelisk (audio)
 also  ˈō-
1
: an upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid
2

Illustration of obelisk

Illustration of obelisk
  • obelisk 1

Examples of obelisk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Around the obelisks, his design would include 17 royal palm trees and an outer seating wall. Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2024 The space’s assorted objects and artworks create the illusion of having stumbled into a wunderkammer: Amid plenty of taxidermy, there’s a pink wool rug with bursts of purple by Fedora Design; a Picasso drawing; a malachite obelisk; and a stack of books by Oscar Wilde. Nick Haramis Guido Taroni, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Built in the early twentieth century, the obelisk was the crowning jewel of the promenade. The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2023 Today, that haystack vigil is marked by a Berkshires-quarried marble obelisk topped by an orb, a symbol of the global missionary vision of the young Puritan men who huddled there — for whom neither New England nor the New World were sufficient. Andrew Doran, National Review, 12 Nov. 2023 In terms of design, the Linksys Velop Pro 7 continues the ongoing tradition of air freshener chic white obelisks the line is known for. Wes Davis, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2023 Stones, crystals, and obelisks are grouped according to color with pithy descriptions of their beneficial properties. Monica Corcoran Harel, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023 Dan Long, the owner of Brushwood Nursery, a mail order specialty vine nursery near Athens, Ga., likes to tuck compact varieties, such as Baby Star and Bijou, into containers fitted with a slender, lightweight wire or wood obelisk. Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2023 The titular collections include woven trunks, wicker ceiling lights and obelisks of various kinds, all photographed by Pierre Musellec. John Wogan Laura Bannister Tariro Mzezewa Elissa Suh Dana Covit Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obelisk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of obelisk was in 1561

Dictionary Entries Near obelisk

Cite this Entry

“Obelisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obelisk. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

obelisk

noun
obe·​lisk ˈäb-ə-ˌlisk How to pronounce obelisk (audio)
: a four-sided pillar that becomes narrower toward the top and ends in a pyramid

More from Merriam-Webster on obelisk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!