col•umn (1) tall pillar usually round and made of stone, either supporting part of the roof of a building or standing alone as a monument:The temple is supported by massive columns. (2) thing shaped like a column: a column of smoke = smoke rising straight up; a column of mercury (in the thermometer). (3) […] [1]
pil•lar (1a) upright column of stone, wood, metal etc used as a support or an ornament, a monument, etc. (1b) thing in the shape of this: a pillar of cloud, fire, smoke, etc. (2) ~ of sth strong supporter of sth: a pillar of the Church, the establishment, the faith. (3) […] [1] A pillar's base section can be all shapes – except circular.
pier […] (2) one of the pillars supporting an arch or a span of a bridge. (3) wall between two windows or other openings. […] (1a) structure of wood, iron, etc built out into the sea, a lake, etc so that boats can stop and take on or put down passengers or goods, →piers (coastal structure) […] [1]
pile (1) heavy column of wood, metal or concrete placed upright in the ground or the sea-bed as a foundation for a building, support for bridge, etc. (2) number of things lying one upon another. […] [1]
col•umn (1) tall pillar usually round and made of stone, either supporting part of the roof of a building or standing alone as a monument:The temple is supported by massive columns. (2) thing shaped like a column: a column of smoke = smoke rising straight up; a column of mercury (in the thermometer). (3) […] [1]
pil•lar (1a) upright column of stone, wood, metal etc used as a support or an ornament, a monument, etc. (1b) thing in the shape of this: a pillar of cloud, fire, smoke, etc. (2) ~ of sth strong supporter of sth: a pillar of the Church, the establishment, the faith. (3) […] [1] A pillar's base section can be all shapes – except circular.
pier […] (2) one of the pillars supporting an arch or a span of a bridge. (3) wall between two windows or other openings. […] (1a) structure of wood, iron, etc built out into the sea, a lake, etc so that boats can stop and take on or put down passengers or goods, →piers (coastal structure) […] [1]
pile (1) heavy column of wood, metal or concrete placed upright in the ground or the sea-bed as a foundation for a building, support for bridge, etc. (2) number of things lying one upon another. […] [1]
