Pilar

Pilar is a term with multiple uses in language, geography, religion, and medicine. In Spanish, pilar denotes a pillar or column and can be used metaphorically to signify support or a foundational element. The word also occurs as a proper noun in various contexts, including place names and personal names.

Place names: Pilar is the name of several towns and municipalities in Spanish-speaking countries and in the Philippines, including Pilar in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, and various municipalities in the Philippines. The name often reflects historical or architectural features associated with a pillar or column.

Religious significance: Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is a major Marian devotion centered on Zaragoza, Spain, where the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar stands. The pillar in the title refers to the biblical column associated with Saint James and the early Christian tradition, and the devotion is observed in many regions around the world.

People: Pilar is a feminine given name in Spanish-speaking cultures and is also used as a surname in some cases. Notable bearers include actress Pilar Bardem and journalist Pilar Rubio, among others.

Medicine and biology: In dermatology, pilar cysts, also known as trichilemmal cysts, are benign growths that originate from hair follicles. The term pilar also appears in anatomical and histological contexts related to hair structures and their supporting tissues in some languages.

See also: Pilar (disambiguation).