1. | （尤指兼作装饰的）柱子，桥墩a large round stone, metal or wooden post that is used to support a bridge, the roof of a building, etc., especially when it is also decorative |
2. | 纪念柱a large round stone, metal or wooden post that is built to remind people of a famous person or event |
3. | ~ of sth 柱状物a mass of sth that is shaped like a pillar |
a pillar of smoke/rock 烟柱；石柱 |
4. | ~ of sth 台柱子；主心骨；中流砥柱a strong supporter of sth; an important member of sth |
a pillar of the Church 教会的骨干分子 | |
a pillar of society 社会中坚 |
5. | ~ of sth 富有某种素质的人；某种素质的化身a person who has a lot of a particular quality |
She is a pillar of strength in a crisis. 她在危难中表现非常坚强。 |
6. | （组织、制度、信仰等的）核心，基础，支柱a basic part or feature of a system, organization, belief, etc. |
the central pillar of this theory 这一理论的核心支柱 |
