Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tall staff or pole on which a flag is raised: A vertical structure, typically made of wood, metal, or fiberglass, designed to display a flag.
   • Surveying instrument: A straight rod painted in alternating red and white bands, each one foot wide, used as a sighting target by surveyors to measure distances or angles.

Usage Examples

• Noun (for displaying a flag):
  • The national flag flies proudly from the flagpole in the town square.
  • We need to repair the rope on the flagpole so we can raise the flag.
• Noun (surveying instrument):
  • The surveyor placed the flagpole at the property corner to take accurate measurements.
  • Looking through the transit, he aligned the crosshairs with the red and white stripes of the flagpole.

Advanced Usage

• "To run something up the flagpole": An idiomatic expression meaning to test an idea or proposal to see how people react to it.
  • Let's run this new marketing slogan up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes it. (Meaning: Let's test this idea and get feedback.)

Variants and Related Words

• Flagstaff: A synonym for a flagpole, especially a large or nautical one.
  • The ship's flagstaff was mounted at the stern.
• Pole: A long, slender, cylindrical object. A flagpole is a specific type of pole.
• Mast: A tall vertical spar on a ship; sometimes used for flags, but not synonymous with a land-based flagpole.

Synonyms

• Staff: A pole or stick, especially one used as a support or symbol.
• Mast (in specific nautical contexts).
• Surveyor's pole/rod: Specifically for the surveying instrument meaning.

Related Phrases

• Flagpole sitting: A fad in the 1920s where people competed to see who could sit atop a flagpole the longest.
  • His grandfather was famous for winning a flagpole sitting contest.

Related Idioms

• "Run it up the flagpole (and see who salutes)": As mentioned in Advanced Usage, this idiom means to propose an idea to gauge reaction.
  • The design isn't final; we're just running it up the flagpole.

Noun

1. a tall staff or pole on which a flag is raised
2. surveying instrument consisting of a straight rod painted in bands of alternate red and white each one foot wide; used for sightings by surveyors