podium

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun An elevated platform, as for an orchestra conductor or public speaker.
• noun A stand for holding the notes of a public speaker; a lectern.
• noun A low wall serving as a foundation.
• noun A wall circling the arena of an ancient amphitheater.
• noun Biology A structure resembling or functioning as a foot.
• intransitive verb To complete a competition, especially a race, as one of the top three contestants, usually being honored while standing on a podium.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun In echinoderms, one of the tube-feet.
• noun In architecture, a continuous pedestal; a stylobate; also, a raised platform which surrounded the arena of the ancient amphitheater, upon which sat persons of distinction, or a bench surrounding a room.
• noun In zoology and anatomy, the foot; the pes: usually applied in ornithology to the toes collectively, without the shank of the foot.
• noun In conchology, the foot of a mollusk.
• noun In botany: A footstalk, stipe, or the like.
• noun A joint, internode, or independent unit in the growth of the axis of a plant.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun (Arch.) A low wall, serving as a foundation, a substructure, or a terrace wall.
• noun The dwarf wall surrounding the arena of an amphitheater, from the top of which the seats began.
• noun The masonry under the stylobate of a temple, sometimes a mere foundation, sometimes containing chambers.
• noun (Zoöl.) The foot.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun A platform on which to stand, as when conducting an orchestra or preaching at a pulpit.
• noun proscribed A stand used to hold notes when speaking publicly.
• noun A steepled platform upon which the three competitors with the best results may stand when being handed their medals or prize.
• noun sports A result amongst the best three at a competition.
• noun A low wall, serving as a foundation, a substructure, or a terrace wall.
• verb sports, proscribed To finish in the top three at an event or competition.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it