water pillar

Noun

water pillar (plural water pillars)

1. A waterspout (whirlwind).
   • A vivid account of such water-pillar instability is given in "The Young Castaways;" while a similar illustration of the transitory character of the desert sand-columns is supplied by the author of "The Tropical World."1892, The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary on the Old Testament, page 264
   • The gigantic water-pillar was approaching the shore.2022, Anna Melnichenko, Listen to your angel
2. Synonym of water crane.
   • I prefer attaching the coking crane to the "water pillar" (by which water is supplied to the locomotive or tender), by means of brackets or other iron work.1854, Charles Meason, “No 889: Supplying Fuel and Water to Locomotive Engines, &c.”, in English Patents of Inventions, Specifications: 1854, 846 - 890
   • Water-pillar fountains have recently been installed in several Lancashire boroughs for supplying water to steam motor wagons and tractors.1916 August 1, “Motor-Wagons, Tractors and Carriages”, in Farm Implement and Machinery Review, page 446

   Synonyms:

   water crane

3. A power-generation mechanism that makes use of the pressure differential created by changing water levels due to tide action, which is used to drive turbines or pumps.
   • Electricity is generated by the vibrating water pillar type water valve integration system using four air chambers, with an output of 130kW provided by the horizontal axle type induction generator […]1994, New Technology Japan - Volume 22, page 35
   • In order to increase the amplitude of water level or pressure alterations in 'oscillating water pillar' , a system of U-shaped pipes with different cross-sections is proposed.2009, V.V. Volshanik, “Proposed Systems for Wave Energy Conversion”, in Evald Emilievich Shpilrain, editor, Renewable Energy Sources Charged With Energy from the Sun and Originated from Earth-Moon...
4. A framework or initiative that focuses on water resources in sustainable development and climate action.
   • The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is acting as the key partner for the energy pillar, with the International Fund for Agricultural Development as the key partner for the food pillar and the African Development Bank as the key partner for the water pillar.2023, The Big Push for Transformation Through Climate and Development, page 24
   • The water pillar is composed of parameters that are related to water management, conservation, and performance .2024, Anatoly B Schmidt, Sustainable Investing: Problems And Solutions, page 212
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see water, pillar.; a pillar formed of water.
   • The 110-foot pile which had struct the hidden stream at a dept of 86 feet, when the geyser-like water pillar spurted up skywards nearly 100 feet has been raised to the surface.1913 January 1, “San Francisco's Hidden Water”, in Fire and Water Engineering, volume 53, page 10
   • the generation of a rotating water pillar within the irradiation chamber of the photoreactor by tangential water injection (VitaTec, Freigericht, Germany);2007, Thomas Oppenländer, Photochemical Purification of Water and Air, page 245