pulpit

noun pulpits

1. countable A raised platform in a church, sometimes enclosed, where the minister or preacher stands when giving the sermon; also, the lectern on such a platform. Always, whether in the pulpit or on the platform, as in private conversation, there is an absolute simplicity about the man and his words; a simplicity, an earnestness, a complete honesty.
2. metonymically, uncountable Activity associated with or usually performed from a church pulpit; preaching, sermons, religious teaching.
3. metonymically, uncountable The preaching profession, office, or role in general; the pastorate, the priesthood, the ministry.
4. metonymically, uncountable Preachers collectively; clergy; the priesthood.
5. countable, metonymically An individual or particular preaching position or role; a pastorate. He seems like too timid a man to fill the pulpit at such a large church.
6. broadly Bully pulpit.
7. countable Any lectern, podium, dais, or platform for an orator or public speaker.

   Similar: platform, soapbox, tribune

8. countable The railing at the bow of a boat, which sometimes extends past the deck; also called bow pulpit. The railing at the stern is sometimes called the stern pulpit or the pushpit.
9. countable A bow platform for harpooning. [Hooper:] Will you just please go to the end of the pulpit! [Brody:] What for? [Hooper:] I need to have something in the foreground to give it some scale. [Brody:] Foreground, my ass!
10. UK, dated, slang A plane's cockpit. In the slang of the Royal Air Force man, the cockpit of his plane is the ‘pulpit’ or ‘office’, the glass covering over it the ‘greenhouse’.

    Similar: office, cockpit