pylon means A gateway to the inner part of an Ancient Egyptian temple.
pylon is pronounced /ˈpaɪ.lɒn/.
Why “pylon” is a great word
A tall structure, typically of steel or concrete, used to support high-voltage electrical cables, or a monumental gateway to an ancient Egyptian temple. A learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πυλών (pulṓn, "gateway"), from πύλη (pylē, "gate"), first recorded in English use in 1823. Unlike an obelisk—a monolithic, commemorative stone shaft—or a mast—a versatile, often lighter pole for sails or antennas—a pylon is fundamentally a functional giant of load and span. It is the stark, geometric silhouette against a storm-gray sky, the silent row of sentinels marching across a rain-slicked field, and the massive, shadowed portal standing empty before a temple's vanished god—a testament to the enduring human need to channel immense forces, both earthly and divine.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πυλών (pulṓn, “gateway”).
noun
- A gateway to the inner part of an Ancient Egyptian temple.
- A tower-like structure, usually one of a series, used to support high-voltage electricity cables.
- A tall steel or concrete tower from which cables are strung.
- A lighting mast; a freestanding support for floodlights.
- A structure used to mount engines, missiles etc., to the underside of an aircraft wing or fuselage.
- A starting derrick for an aeroplane.
- A post, tower, etc. as on an aerodrome, or flying ground, serving to bound or mark a prescribed course of flight.
- An obelisk.e.g.“The Washington Monument is often described as an obelisk, and sometimes even as a “true obelisk,” even though it is not. A true obelisk is a monolith, a pylon formed out of a single piece of stone.”
- A traffic cone.
- An orange marker designating one of the four corners of the end zone in American football.
- An ineffective, useless player.e.g.“The defensemen have been total pylons tonight!”
- A rigid prosthesis for the lower leg.e.g.“McKenzie uses a pylon for all above knee amputees, and orders a permanent leg when function merits it.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- obelisk 86% match — A tall, square, tapered, stone monolith topped with a pyramidal point, frequently used as a monument. vs pylon →
- propylaeum 82% match — A vestibule or entrance, (especially) to a temple. vs pylon →
- trilithon 81% match — A structure consisting of two stone pillars supporting a horizontal stone. vs pylon →
- ziggurat 81% match — A temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian valley, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories vs pylon →
- monolith 81% match — A large, single block of stone which is a natural feature; or a block of stone or other similar material used in architecture and sculpture, especially one carved into a monument in ancient times. vs pylon →
- gopuram 80% match — A monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a temple, especially in Southern India. vs pylon →
- speos 80% match — A tomb or temple carved from the solid rock vs pylon →
- hypostyle 79% match — Having a roof supported on a row of columns. vs pylon →