Word of the Day

: January 27, 2022

ziggurat

noun ZIG-uh-rat

What It Means

A ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian temple that resembles a pyramid having successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. The word is used figuratively for any structure having stages or steps.

// The tourists stared with awe at the ancient ziggurat.

// The fitness plan is a ziggurat with many steps to one's goal.

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ziggurat in Context

"[Adam Borba] … has steadily maneuvered his way up Hollywood's creative ziggurat for some time. He co-produced 'Pete's Dragon' (2016) before adding executive producer to his list of credits with 'A Wrinkle in Time' (2018) and the highly anticipated 'Peter Pan & Wendy,' coming in 2022." — Greg Archer, The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California), 14 Nov. 2021

Did You Know?

French professor of archaeology Francois Lenormant spent a great deal of time poring over ancient Assyrian texts. In those cuneiform inscriptions, he recognized a new language, now known as Akkadian, which proved valuable to the understanding of the ancient civilization. Through his studies, he became familiar with the Akkadian word for the towering temples: ziqqurratu, which was translated into English as ziggurat.