rostrum

[ ros-truhm ]
/ ˈrɒs trəm /

noun, plural ros·tra [ros-truh] /ˈrɒs trə/, ros·trums.

any platform, stage, or the like, for public speaking.
a pulpit.
a beaklike projection from the prow of a ship, especially one on an ancient warship for ramming an enemy ship; beak; ram.
Roman Antiquity. (in the forum) the raised platform, adorned with the beaks of captured warships, from which orations, pleadings, etc., were delivered.
Biology. a beaklike process or extension of some part; rostellum.
British Theater. a raised platform or dais, especially one with hinged sides that can be folded and stored within a relatively small space.

Origin of rostrum

1570–80; < Latin rōstrum snout, bill, beak of a bird, ship's prow (in plural, speaker's platform), equivalent to rōd(ere) to gnaw, bite (cf. rodent) + -trum instrumental suffix, with dt > st

Example sentences from the Web for rostrum

British Dictionary definitions for rostrum

rostrum
/ (ˈrɒstrəm) /

noun plural -trums or -tra (-trə)

any platform, stage, or dais on which public speakers stand to address an audience
a platform or dais in front of an orchestra on which the conductor stands
another word for ram (def. 5)
the prow or beak of an ancient Roman ship
biology zoology a beak or beaklike part

Word Origin for rostrum

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 the prows of captured ships

Medical definitions for rostrum

rostrum
[ rŏstrəm ]

n. pl. ros•trums

A beaklike or snoutlike projection.

Other words from rostrum

rostral (-trəl) adj.