Link Centre Dictionary

pier

UK/pɪə/ US/pɪː/ fairly common

noun

1.

a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

Synonyms
2.

(architecture) a vertical supporting structure (as a portion of wall between two doors or windows)

3.

a support for two adjacent bridge spans

Origin

Inherited from Middle English pere (“bridge pillar, breakwater”), from either Anglo-Norman pere (“stone”, from Latin petra) or Old French *piere (Old Northern French pire, from either Late Latin *petricus or pēra "satchel"); compare Medieval Latin pira.

Phrases

  • abutment pier
  • Brighton pier
  • chain pier
  • finger pier
  • pier glass
  • pier runner
  • pier table
  • rocking pier

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.