monolith
/ˈmɒnəlɪθ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɑːnəlɪθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmä-nə-ˌlith/ (ame, mw)
monolith — noun
- monolithsingular
- monolithsplural
1. a huge organization or system that works as one force, changes slowly, and pays
a huge organization or system that works as one force, changes slowly, and pays little attention to individuals.
After the merger, staff feared the bank would become a distant monolith.
critical use for a huge unresponsive institution
Residents saw the ministry as a monolith that ignored local problems.
Years of rules turned the hospital into a monolith nobody challenged.
In the novel, the party appears as a cold monolith controlling daily life.
- bureaucracy
stresses layers of rules and procedures more than sheer scale
- institution
is more neutral and does not by itself suggest rigidity
- apparatus
is more formal and often used for political or state structures
用法筆記
Usually carries criticism. It often describes governments, companies, or institutions that seem too large to listen or adapt. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about treating a group of people as identical.
2. a set of people spoken about as if they all think, want, or behave in the same w
a set of people spoken about as if they all think, want, or behave in the same way.
Some reporters treated rural voters as a monolith with one opinion.
treat X as a monolith
Teenagers are not a monolith, and schools should not label them that way.
The ad assumed parents were a monolith who all wanted luxury brands.
Online comments often turn immigrants into a monolith instead of real people.
- bloc
often suggests a political group acting together in voting or policy
- collective
can be neutral, while monolith usually criticizes oversimplification
用法筆記
Common in arguments about identity, politics, and public opinion, especially in negative statements such as 'not a monolith'. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on a powerful institution rather than a category of people.
3. a single huge stone set upright, especially one raised in ancient times for reli
a single huge stone set upright, especially one raised in ancient times for religious or ceremonial reasons.
Visitors walked around the monolith at sunrise before entering the ruins.
standing stone at an ancient site
Archaeologists found a monolith beside the old temple on the hill.
A cracked monolith still marks the center of the ancient burial ground.
Jin sketched the monolith while the guide described local rituals.
- standing stone
is the broader archaeological term for an upright stone monument
- pillar
can mean any upright support and is less specific than monolith
- column
often suggests a shaped architectural support rather than one solid stone
用法筆記
Usually refers to an upright stone at an ancient site, grave area, or ritual setting. Distinguish from sense 4, which uses monolith metaphorically for an imposing building.
4. a very big building or block-like structure that looks heavy, plain, and imposin
a very big building or block-like structure that looks heavy, plain, and imposing.
From the ferry, the casino looked like a black monolith on the shore.
used for an imposing block-like building
The new office tower rises as a glass monolith above the station.
Beatrix hated the apartment monolith blocking light from the park.
At night, the museum became a glowing monolith beside the river.
用法筆記
Often appears in architectural description or criticism to stress a building's size, simple shape, or overpowering presence. Distinguish from sense 3, which names a single upright stone.