plinth

noun

ˈplin(t)th 

1

a

: the lowest member of a base : subbase

b

: a block upon which the moldings of an architrave or trim are stopped at the bottom

2

: a usually square block serving as a base

broadly : any of various bases or lower parts

3

: a course of stones forming a continuous foundation or base course

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Plinth and Architecture

"These ivy-clad arcades — / These mouldering plinths ... are they all — / All of the famed, and the colossal left…?" In these lines from "The Coliseum," Edgar Allan Poe alludes to a practical feature of classical architecture. The plinth serves the important purpose of raising the base of the column it supports above the ground, thus protecting it from dampness and mold. The humble plinth is usually a mere thick block. It's humbly named, too, for the Greek word plinthos means simply "tile" or "brick." English writers have used plinth, a shortened version of the Latin form plinthus, since the mid-16th century. The word's meaning was later extended to bases for statues, vases, or busts.

Examples of plinth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a private preview before the show’s November 2nd opening, Tines will sing while standing on the living-room plinth, accompanied by his grandparents, who raised him and fostered his love of music. —Henry Alford, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

Dinosaur will be the fourth occupant of the five-foot-square plinth since the program was inaugurated with Simone Leigh’s Brick House in 2019. —Carl Swanson, Curbed, 31 July 2024

In the video, the man steps onto the plinth that holds the Cube and pushes it forward, shattering the work. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Fuse Audio This mechanism sits atop a stained ash plinth with either gold or black accenting, and a handy slot towards the rear for displaying album art during playback. —Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin plinthus, from Greek plinthos

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

plinth

noun

ˈplin(t)th 

1

: the lowest part of the base of an architectural column

2

: a block used as a base (as for a vase)