Meaning & use
plinth
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Meanings
nouncountable
A solid block or slab at the bottom of a statue, column or vase that holds it up.
Grammar: A countable noun: the statue stands on a plinth.
Patterns
- on a plinth
- a plinth for something
The bronze horse stands on a granite plinth in the square.
Workers lifted the vase onto its marble plinth.
Visitors left flowers at the plinth of the monument.
nouncountabletechnical
A low flat base on which a building, wall or piece of furniture rests, or the strip along the bottom of a wall.
Grammar: In architecture and building trades, often the lowest part of a wall or a cabinet.
The kitchen cabinets sit on a recessed plinth so you can stand close to them.
The old church has a stone plinth running around its base.
The builder fitted a plinth under the bookshelf.
Word forms
| plural | plinths |
|---|
Common combinations
- stone plinth
- A stone plinth held the sculpture.
- on a plinth
- The trophy was displayed on a plinth.
- empty plinth
- An empty plinth stood where the statue had been.
- marble plinth
- The marble plinth was engraved with a date.
- plinth of the monument
- Children climbed on the plinth of the monument.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pedestal
- Pedestal is nearly the same, but it often suggests a taller, more decorated support and appears in phrases like put someone on a pedestal.
- base
- Base is the general word for any bottom part, while plinth is a specific solid block under a statue or column.
- stand
- Stand is an everyday word for any support, while plinth sounds architectural and is usually made of stone.
- socle
- Socle is a rare technical term for a low plain base, mainly used by architects and art historians.
Word family
Commonly confused: plinth or pedestal?
plinth vs pedestal
A pedestal can be a tall decorated stand, and also appears in the idiom put someone on a pedestal. A plinth is a plainer block at the bottom.
Practice
A bronze statue of a general stands on a granite ___ in the park.
Choose one answer.
A plinth is a solid base that supports a statue. A plank is a board, and a platter is a serving dish.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plinth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.