Word forms: plural rostrums, plural rostra (rɒstrə)
countable noun
A rostrum is a raised platform on which someone stands when they are speaking to an audience, receiving a prize, or conducting an orchestra.
As he stood on the winner's rostrum, he sang the words of the national anthem.
Synonyms: stage, stand, platform, podium More Synonyms of rostrum
rostrum in British English
(ˈrɒstrəm)
nounWord forms: plural-trums or -tra (-trə)
1.
any platform, stage, or dais on which public speakers stand to address an audience
2.
a platform or dais in front of an orchestra on which the conductor stands
3. another word for ram (sense 5)
4.
the prow or beak of an ancient Roman ship
5. biology, zoology
a beak or beaklike part
Word origin
C16: from Latin rōstrum beak, ship's prow, from rōdere to nibble, gnaw; in plural, rōstra, orator's platform, because this platform in the Roman forum was adorned with theprows of captured ships
rostrum in American English
(ˈrɑstrəm)
nounWord forms: pluralˈrostrums or ˈrostra (ˈrostrə)
1.
in ancient Rome,
a.
a curved, beaklike projection at the prow of a ship; esp., such a projection on a war galley, used for ramming enemy vessels; beak
b.
the speakers' platform in the Forum, decorated with such beaks taken from captured ships
2.
a.
any platform, stage, etc. for public speaking
b.
public speaking, or public speakers collectively
3. Biology
a beak or beaklike part
Word origin
L, beak, in pl., speakers' platform (see rostrum (sense 1) rostrum (sense 1b)) < rosus, pp. of rodere, to gnaw, peck: see rat
Examples of 'rostrum' in a sentence
rostrum
As they reached the steps, a squad of militiamen escorted them to the big stone rostrum near the fire.
Kerr, Katharine A TIME OF WAR (2002)
Signior Lampone and Anne Lucas climbed up on to the rostrum, and the applause swelled.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
Gerhardt touched Veronica's hand and nodded towards the rostrum, his eyes narrowed.
NULL DARE CALL IT TREASON (2002)
(noun)
Definition
a platform or stage
He stood on the winner's rostrum.
Synonyms
stage
I went on stage and did my show.
stand
The teapot came with a stand to catch the drips.
platform
Nick finished his speech and jumped down from the platform.
podium
She walked to the podium and began her speech.
dais
She sat on the dais along with the other guests of honour.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dais
Definition
a raised platform in a hall or meeting place used by a speaker
She sat on the dais along with the other guests of honour.
Synonyms
platform,
stage,
podium,
rostrum,
estrade (rare)
in the sense of platform
Definition
a raised floor
Nick finished his speech and jumped down from the platform.
Synonyms
stage,
stand,
podium,
rostrum,
dais,
pulpit,
soapbox
in the sense of podium
Definition
a small raised platform used by conductors or speakers