pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän 

-lən

1

a

: a usually massive gateway

b

: an ancient Egyptian gateway building in a truncated pyramidal form

c

: a monumental mass flanking an entranceway or an approach to a bridge

2

a

chiefly British : a tower for supporting either end of usually a number of wires over a long span

b

: any of various towerlike structures

3

a

: a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight for an airplane

b

: traffic cone

c

: one of the flexible upright markers positioned on a football field at the corners of the end zone

4

: a rigid structure on the outside of an aircraft for supporting something (such as an engine or missile) see airplane illustration

Illustration of pylon

• pylon 1b

Examples of pylon in a Sentence

The bridge is supported by concrete pylons.

a row of electricity pylons

Recent Examples on the Web

The team also discovered a second door on the pylon, which leads to a hidden staircase that once featured at least four different flights. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024

These tubes, either raised on pylons or sunk beneath the earth, could be built either within or between cities. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 5 Nov. 2024

Pearsall caught Purdy’s pass in stride over the middle at the Bucs’ 30, then beat safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to the left pylon. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

Romeo Doubs made what looked like a one-handed catch near the front left pylon for a touchdown on the first play against Corey Ballentine, then beat Ballentine in the same spot later for a two-handed catch. —Matt Schneidman, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek pylōn, from pylē gate

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän 

-lən

1

: a tower for supporting a long span of wire

also : any of various structures like a tower

2

: a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight for an airplane

Medical Definition

pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän  -lən 

: a simple temporary artificial leg