plinth
noun
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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
New Atlas, 2 July 2025
Have stood the plinth of finance from which angels crowd and watch
the air happening
gradually to them.
—Timmy Straw, Harpers Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
After placing the trophy on a plinth at the Allianz Arena, Pastore stepped back and watched the jubilant PSG players file past.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 1 June 2025
On colorful plinths made by Sarabande artist Adam, the brand showcased their special edition of Vintage 2015 in tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for plinth
Cite this Entry
“Plinth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plinth. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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plinth
noun
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