noun
obelisk
O-buh-lihsk
Obelisk (noun) means a tall, four-sided stone pillar that narrows to a pointed top, often built as a monument. Example: “Tourists gathered around the ancient obelisk in the square.”
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- obelisks
- Third person singular
- obelisks
- Past tense
- obelisked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tourists gathered around the ancient _____ in the square.
Etymology
From Latin obeliscus, from Greek obeliskos, "little spit/needle" — a diminutive of obelos.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “obelisk” mean?
The word “obelisk” means a tall, four-sided stone pillar that narrows to a pointed top, often built as a monument. In plain terms, a tall pointed stone monument, or the dagger symbol (†) used in print.
How do you pronounce “obelisk”?
“Obelisk” is pronounced O-buh-lihsk (/ˈɑbəlɪsk/ in IPA).
How do you use “obelisk” in a sentence?
Here is “obelisk” used in a sentence: “Tourists gathered around the ancient obelisk in the square.”
What is another word for “obelisk”?
Words with a similar meaning to “obelisk” include aguilla, pylon and stela.
What part of speech is “obelisk”?
“Obelisk” is a noun.
Where does the word “obelisk” come from?
The word “obelisk” comes from Latin. From Latin obeliscus, from Greek obeliskos, "little spit/needle" — a diminutive of obelos.
How many meanings does “obelisk” have?
“Obelisk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall, four-sided stone pillar that narrows to a pointed top, often built as a monument.
