Pier has several meanings. Two kinds of piers are used in building construction. One kind is a block of concrete or masonry that forms part of a building’s foundation. The other kind of pier supports a bridge and may be made of concrete, steel, or timber. In architecture, supporting pillars for arches or masonry walls are sometimes called piers. A pier may also be a platform that extends into a body of water for loading and unloading ships. See also Bridge ; Building construction (Foundations) ; Cofferdam ; Harbor .
