pulpit

Noun

pulpit (plural pulpits)

1. (countable) A raised platform in a church, sometimes enclosed, where the minister or preacher stands when giving the sermon; also, the lectern on such a platform.
   • Always, whether in the pulpit or on the platform, as in private conversation, there is an absolute simplicity about the man and his words; a simplicity, an earnestness, a complete honesty.1915, Russell H. Conwell, Robert Shackleton, chapter IV, in Acres of Diamonds, His Life and Achievements
   • [H]is `Amens' were ejected at the pulpit with the severity of a reprimand.1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 12
2. (metonymically, uncountable) Activity associated with or usually performed from a church pulpit; preaching, sermons, religious teaching.
3. (metonymically, uncountable) The preaching profession, office, or role in general; the pastorate, the priesthood, the ministry.
4. (metonymically, uncountable) Preachers collectively; clergy; the priesthood.
5. (countable, metonymically) An individual or particular preaching position or role; a pastorate.
   • He seems like too timid a man to fill the pulpit at such a large church.
6. (broadly) Bully pulpit.
7. (countable) Any lectern, podium, dais, or platform for an orator or public speaker.

   Synonyms:

   platform, soapbox, tribune

8. (countable) The railing at the bow of a boat, which sometimes extends past the deck; also called bow pulpit. The railing at the stern is sometimes called the stern pulpit or the pushpit.
9. (countable) A bow platform for harpooning.
   • [Hooper:] Will you just please go to the end of the pulpit!
     [Brody:] What for?
     [Hooper:] I need to have something in the foreground to give it some scale.
     [Brody:] Foreground, my ass!1975, Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, Jaws
10. (UK, dated, slang) A plane's cockpit.
    • In the slang of the Royal Air Force man, the cockpit of his plane is the ‘pulpit’ or ‘office’, the glass covering over it the ‘greenhouse’.1941 March 24, Life, page 85

    Synonyms:

    office, cockpit