1
a
: the lowest member of a base : subbase
b
: a block upon which the moldings of an architrave or trim are stopped at the bottom
2
: a usually square block serving as a base
broadly : any of various bases or lower parts
3
: a course of stones forming a continuous foundation or base course

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Plinth and Architecture

"These ivy-clad arcades — / These mouldering plinths ... are they all — / All of the famed, and the colossal left…?" In these lines from "The Coliseum," Edgar Allan Poe alludes to a practical feature of classical architecture. The plinth serves the important purpose of raising the base of the column it supports above the ground, thus protecting it from dampness and mold. The humble plinth is usually a mere thick block. It's humbly named, too, for the Greek word plinthos means simply "tile" or "brick." English writers have used plinth, a shortened version of the Latin form plinthus, since the mid-16th century. The word's meaning was later extended to bases for statues, vases, or busts.

Examples of plinth in a Sentence

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In Cam Thanh village, near the tourist hotspot of Hoi An, the Casamia Community House rises on a concrete plinth above a tidal river. Faye Bradley, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025 The brilliant white plinth undergoes seven grinding and polishing stages to achieve its glass-smooth finish. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2025 The sculpture is not large, measuring 7-feet wide and standing 6-foot-6 inches high without a plinth. Eric Adler august 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025 An inscription on the plinth read: Author, Poet, Scholar, Soldier, Jurist Orator, Philanthropist, Philosopher. Owen Clarke, Outside, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plinth

Word History

Etymology

Latin plinthus, from Greek plinthos

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of plinth was in 1563

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Cite this Entry

“Plinth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plinth. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

plinth

noun
1
: the lowest part of the base of an architectural column
2
: a block used as a base (as for a vase)

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