noun
obelisk
O-buh-lihsk
noun
1
A tall, four-sided stone pillar that narrows to a pointed top, often built as a monument.
"Tourists gathered around the ancient obelisk in the square."
"Egyptian obelisks were often carved from a single block of granite."
2
A dagger-like symbol (†) used in printing to mark a footnote or to show that a person has died.
"An obelisk next to his name showed he had passed away."
How to Use Obelisk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tall pointed stone monument, or the dagger symbol (†) used in print.
Common pairings
ancient obelisk
granite obelisk
Word Forms
obelisked past tense, obelisks plural, obelisks singular
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Etymology
From Latin obeliscus, from Greek obeliskos, "little spit/needle" — a diminutive of obelos.