pier

noun

ˈpir 

1

: an intermediate support for the adjacent ends of two bridge spans

2

: a structure (such as a breakwater) extending into navigable water for use as a landing place or promenade or to protect or form a harbor

3

: a vertical structural support: such as

a

: the wall between two openings

b

: pillar, pilaster

c

: a vertical member that supports the end of an arch or lintel

d

: an auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall

4

: a structural mount (as for a telescope) usually of stonework, concrete, or steel

Synonyms

• dock
• float
• jetty
• landing
• levee
• quai
• quay
• wharf

Examples of pier in a Sentence

tied the boat up at the pier

Recent Examples on the Web

Composed of more than 70,000 wooden planks, the 38-block oceanfront stretch draws crowds with everything from amusement piers featuring rides and games galore to water parks to classic eateries and shopping. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024

The locations of the three cars are around 12 km from the pier recently built for WCK to deliver its aid deliveries to Gaza via boat. —Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024

The Biden administration is building a temporary pier to deliver humanitarian aid for citizens and has asked Israel to not launch a military campaign in Rafah to avoid further civilian endangerment. —Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024

Modern bridges don’t look like the Key Bridge, which experts say lacked adequate defenses around its piers. —Chris Quintana, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024

But that’s only if the old bridge’s pier foundations are used; designers may want to locate the new supports farther away from the shipping channels to avoid another collision. —Ben Finley, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024

The main span of the Key Bridge, the one that flew high above the river allowing passage to ships beneath, sat on its four piers like a bird. —Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024

Then the aid would be loaded into trucks that would drive onto U.S. Army boats and be ferried to a separate temporary pier fixed to the shore. —Carol E. Lee, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024

At the time of the crash, Oceanside police said in a news release that someone had flagged down an officer about 11 p.m. July 4 to report seeing a white Volkswagen GTI driving without its lights on near Mission Avenue and North Myers Street, near the pier. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English per, from Old English, from Medieval Latin pera

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pier

• pier glass
• pier table

Kids Definition

pier

noun

ˈpi(ə)r 

1

: a support for a bridge

2

: a structure built out into the water for use as a landing place or walk or to protect or form a harbor

3

: an upright supporting part (as a pillar or buttress) of a building or structure