pier

noun

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
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

Examples of pier in a Sentence

tied the boat up at the pier
Recent Examples on the Web The United States is constructing a temporary pier off Gaza’s coastline to receive deliveries. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 The boats arrived at the pier in Joyuda, on the western shore of Puerto Rico, near dawn. Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 The military pier, however, is still some two months away from becoming operational. Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024 In 1997’s Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack Dawson references the pier, which would have been three years old in 1912, the year Titanic took its doomed maiden voyage. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Critics have pointed out that airdrops and a temporary pier are insufficient, dangerous, and haphazard operations compared with ensuring a steady and reliable supply of aid delivered by trucks, which might be achieved by a cease-fire agreement. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2024 President Joe Biden announced during his State of the Union that U.S. troops will construct a floating pier on the coast of Gaza that could deliver 2 million daily meals. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 World Central Kitchen has also contracted a team inside Gaza to build a 120-foot pier at an undisclosed location on the coast. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Large ships will dock at the pier and offload their cargo to smaller vessels, which would ferry shipments to the causeway and from there into Gaza. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pier.' 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

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

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pier was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pier

Cite this Entry

“Pier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pier. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pier

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on pier

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