plinth

noun

ˈplin(t)th 

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

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Champions' names have been engraved on the dish since its inception, initially on the front but moving to the back when the trophy ran out of room and, much like the men’s trophy in 2009, the names are now engraved on a plinth that was added in 2016 once the trophy ran out of space on the back. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 14 July 2024

The trailhead was marked by a stone gate with a roof of red ceramic tiles; plinths on either side held identical busts of a proud, smiling Sherpa woman. —Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2024

Another room features a pink couture dress that the duchess had made by a local woman living in the village and opposite is a plinth with her velvet slippers that have Elvis’ face on them. —Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 21 June 2024

Concrete plinths supporting the tracks had begun to crack, as had portions of the tunnel’s bench wall. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin plinthus, from Greek plinthos

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

plinth

noun

ˈplin(t)th 

1

: the lowest part of the base of an architectural column

2

: a block used as a base (as for a vase)