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podium

1 American  
[poh-dee-uhm] / ˈpoʊ di əm /

noun

plural

podiums, podia

  1. a small platform for the conductor of an orchestra, a public speaker, the recipient of a sports medal, etc.

  2. Architecture.

    1. a low wall forming a base for a construction, as a colonnade or dome.

    2. a stereobate for a classical temple, especially one with perpendicular sides.

    3. the masonry supporting a classical temple.

    4. a raised platform surrounding the arena of an ancient Roman amphitheater having on it the seats of privileged spectators.

  3. lectern.

  4. a counter or booth, as one at an airport for handling tickets or dispensing information.

  5. Zoology, Anatomy. a foot.

  6. Botany. a footstalk or stipe.

verb (used without object)

  1. (in a sports competition) to finish first, second, or third and receive an award while standing on a podium.

    He’s podiumed in five of his past six races.
-podium 2 American  

  1. a combining form meaning “footlike part” of an organism, used in the formation of compound words.

    monopodium; pseudo-podium.
podium 1 British  
/ ˈpəʊdɪəm /

noun

  1. a small raised platform used by lecturers, orchestra conductors, etc; dais

  2. a plinth that supports a colonnade or wall

  3. a low wall surrounding the arena of an ancient amphitheatre

  4. zoology

    1. the terminal part of a vertebrate limb

    2. any footlike organ, such as the tube foot of a starfish

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
-podium 2 British  

combining form

  1. a part resembling a foot

    pseudopodium
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does -podium mean? The combining form -podium is used like a suffix meaning “footlike part.” It is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in botany.The form -podium comes from Greek pódion, meaning “little foot.” The Latin cognate of pódion is pēs, “foot,” and is the source of several combining forms related to the lower extremities, including -ped, -pede, and pedi-. Discover more at our Words That Use articles for each of these three forms.What are variants of -podium?The form -podium is a variant of -pode. It also shares an origin with the combining forms pod-, podo-, -pod, -poda, and -podous. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for all these forms.

Etymology

Origin of podium1

1605–15; < Latin: “elevated place, balcony” < Greek pódion “little foot,” equivalent to pod- pod- + -ion diminutive suffix. See pew

Origin of -podium2

From New Latin; podium

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She couldn’t stop herself from stealing a peek at the school conductor’s score, copying bowings and poring over the details, but she didn’t indulge any dreams of taking the podium herself.

From Los Angeles Times

If they gave out medals in financial trash talking, Warren Buffett would be on the podium.

From The Wall Street Journal

Having been marooned at the back, Sauber became more respectable performers, and their veteran German driver Nico Hulkenberg even finally scored a podium after 16 years of trying in last year's British Grand Prix.

From BBC

The former Christie’s auctioneer, author, podcaster and motivational speaker is normally unflappable on the podium.

From Los Angeles Times

The 2010 Olympic downhill champion came out of retirement last winter after almost six years away and had found impressive World Cup form this season with seven podium finishes in eight races, including two victories.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.