Monolith

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈmÉ’.nÉ™.lɪθ/
• US IPA: /ˈmÉ‘.nÉ™.lɪθ/

Origin

From French monolithe, from Latin monolithus "consisting of a single stone", from Ancient Greek μονόλιθος monolithos, from μόνος monos "single, alone" + λίθος lithos "stone".

Full definition of monolith

Noun

1. A large single block of stone, used in architecture and sculpture.
• 2012-01, w, The Washington Monument, The Washington Monument is often described as an obelisk, and sometimes even as a “true obelisk,” even though it is not. A true obelisk is a monolith, a pylon formed out of a single piece of stone.
2. Anything massive, uniform and unmovable.
3. (chemistry, chromatography) A continuous stationary-phase cast as a homogeneous column in a single piece.

Related terms

• monolithic adjective