monolith

Pronunciation

monolith (məˈnɒl.ɪθ) [ˈmɑn.əˌlɪθ]

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• mo (mə):

• Unstressed central vowel sound /ə/ like the "a" in "sofa"

• no (ˈnɒl):

• Alveolar plosive /n/ like the "n" in "nap"

• Rounded back open vowel /ɒ/ like the "o" in "cot" (British English) or the "a" in "father" (General American)

• ith (ɪθ):

• Voiced dental fricative /ð/ like the "th" in "the"

• Dental fricative /θ/ like the voiceless "th" in "thin"

Word Form Variations

The word "monolith" has the following word form variations:

• Singular: monolith (refers to one single large stone or something resembling it)

• Plural: monoliths (refers to multiple large stones or things resembling them)

• No adjective form: "monolith" itself can function as an adjective to describe something large, uniform, and imposing (e.g., a monolithic corporation).

• No verb form: "monolith" is not typically used as a verb.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Noun:

1. A large, single block of stone, often sculpted into a monument or column.

• Synonyms: megalith, standing stone, obelisk

• Antonyms: small stone, pebble, fragment

2. A large, powerful organisation or system that is seen as inflexible and resistant to change.

• Synonyms: giant, behemoth, juggernaut, bureaucracy

• Antonyms: small organisation, startup, agile system, adaptable entity

Examples of Use

• 1. Referring to a Large Stone Structure:

  • Book: "Atop a windswept plateau stood the Easter Island monoliths, their silent gaze a mystery for centuries." (Fictional example)

  • Newspaper: "Archaeologists unearth a massive, previously unknown monolith in the jungles of Guatemala." (Headline from a hypothetical news article)

  2. Describing a Large, Inflexible Organisation:

  • Online Publication: "The corporation's slow decision-making process exposes its monolith-like structure in today's fast-paced business world." (Source [invalid URL removed])

  • Entertainment Medium: "In the movie 'Star Wars,' the Death Star is a classic example of a powerful, yet ultimately inflexible, monolith." (Fictional example)

  3. General Public Discourse:

  • "The government bureaucracy is such a monolith; it takes forever to get anything done." (Informal conversation)

  • "The company needs to break free from its monolith structure and become more adaptable to changing customer needs." (Business presentation)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Monolith

Unfortunately, there aren't many famous quotes that directly use the word "monolith" due to its nature. "Monolith" is more commonly used in descriptive contexts than in spoken dialogue. However, here are ten quotes that capture similar ideas to the concept of a monolith:

1. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (This quote reflects the idea of a powerful, unyielding force, similar to a monolith, that good struggles to overcome.)

2. "Bureaucracy is the art of making the world safe for incompetent people." - Robert Heinlein (This quote highlights the inflexibility and resistance to change often associated with monolithic organisations.)

3. "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw (This quote explores the tension between established systems (monoliths) and the need for change and progress.)

4. "The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall." - Che Guevara (This quote suggests the need for action to break down or overthrow a powerful, established system.)

5. "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo (This quote speaks to the potential stagnation that can occur within a monolithic system.)

6. "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." - Voltaire (This quote highlights the value of questioning established systems, which monoliths often represent.)

7. "The only source of knowledge is experience." - Albert Einstein (This quote emphasises the need for adaptation and learning, which can be challenging for monolithic structures.)

8. "The two most dangerous things are to shape a system so it can never fail and then to design a system that assumes humans will be completely rational." - Stuart Brand (This quote reflects the dangers of inflexibility and lack of human consideration in monolithic systems.)

9. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu (This quote emphasises the importance of starting change, even when faced with a seemingly immovable force like a monolith.)

10. "The mind is everything. What you think you become." - Buddha (This quote highlights the power of individual thought and action, which can contribute to change within monolithic systems.)

Etymology

The word "monolith" is like a detective story about giant stones! Here's the breakdown:

• Origin story: The word comes from Ancient Greek, where "mono" means "single" and "lithos" means "stone." So literally, a monolith is a "single stone."

• First Case: The word first showed up in English around 1836. Back then, it strictly referred to a giant, single block of stone, often carved into a monument or a tall, pillar-like shape (think of the mysterious slabs in movies like "2001: A Space Odyssey").

• The Plot Twist: Over time, people started using "monolith" to describe more than just giant rocks. They began using it for anything big, powerful, and hard to change. Imagine a huge corporation - it might be called a monolith because it's so big and established, it seems almost unchangeable.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Monolith

• Monolithic organisation: This is a common phrase describing a large, inflexible organisation with a rigid hierarchy and slow decision-making process.

• To break down a monolith: This idiom refers to the process of dismantling or reforming a large, established system to make it more adaptable and responsive.

• A monolith of power: This phrase emphasises the vast and concentrated power held by a single entity, like a government or corporation.

• Unmovable monolith: This idiom describes something extremely resistant to change or outside influence.

• Like a monolith in his/her views: This phrase compares someone's unyielding and inflexible opinions to a large, unmoving stone.

Posts Related to Monolith

Source Information

Definition of monolith from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.