stele
/'sti:li/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An ancient upright stone slab bearing markings: A stele is an ancient stone monument, typically inscribed or carved, used for commemorative or informational purposes.
- The central vascular portion of a plant axis: In botany, the stele is the central, usually cylindrical, core of vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) in the stem or root of a vascular plant.
Examples of Usage
Noun (Archaeology/History):
- The Rosetta Stone is a famous stele inscribed with a decree in three scripts.
- Archaeologists discovered a well-preserved stele marking the boundary of the ancient city.
Noun (Botany):
- The plant's stele is responsible for transporting water and nutrients.
- In ferns, the stele can have a variety of complex arrangements.
Advanced Usage
"Funerary stele": A stone slab used as a grave marker, often bearing an inscription or relief.
- The museum's collection includes a Greek funerary stele from the 4th century BCE.
"Protostele": A simple, solid type of stele found in some primitive vascular plants.
- The clubmoss has a protostele, with a solid core of vascular tissue.
Variants and Related Words
Stela (n): An alternative singular form, especially common in archaeological contexts. Plural: stelae.
- Several weathered stelae were found at the site.
Steletic (adj): Pertaining to or resembling a stele.
- The steletic structure was evident in the cross-section.
Synonyms
- Archaeology: Monument, inscribed stone, pillar, tablet.
- Botany: Vascular cylinder, central cylinder.
Related Phrases
- "To erect a stele": To set up a commemorative stone slab.
- The king ordered a stele to be erected in honor of the victory.
Related Idioms
(This word is highly technical and specific; it is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions.)
Noun
- an ancient upright stone slab bearing markings
- the usually cylindrical central vascular portion of the axis of a vascular plant