• n. 讲坛；演讲者；嘴；喙

来自拉丁语 rostrum,鸟嘴，喙，船头，船艏，来自 rodere,咬，词源同 rodent,eraser.现词义来 自古罗马对邻邦 Antium 在海战中取得胜利后，将其鸟喙形船艏战利品放置于古罗马广场演 讲台，象征着古罗马人勇敢无畏的精神。后引申词义讲坛，指挥台。

rostrum

rostrum: [16] Latin rōstrum originally meant ‘beak’ or ‘muzzle of an animal’ – it was derived from the verb rōdere ‘gnaw’ (source of English corrode [14], erode [17], and rodent [19]). The word was also applied metaphorically to the ‘beaklike’ prows of ships. In 338 BC the platform for public speakers in the Forum in Rome was adorned with the prows of ships captured from Antium (modern Anzio), and so in due course all such platforms came to be known as rostra – whence the English word.
=> corrode, erode, rodent

rostrum (n.)

1540s, from Latin rostrum, name of the platform stand for public speakers in the Forum in ancient Rome. It was decorated with the beaks of ships taken in the first naval victory of the Roman republic, over Antium, in 338 B.C.E., and the word's older sense is "end of a ship's prow," literally "beak, muzzle, snout," originally "means of gnawing," instrument noun form of rodere "to gnaw" (see rodent). Compare claustrum "lock, bar," from claudere "to shut." Extended sense of any platform for public speaking is first recorded 1766. Classical plural form is rostra.

1. He warmly shook hands with those gathered around the rostrum.

他同聚集在主席台四周的人热情握手.

来自《简明英汉词典》

2. From the rostrum he thundered at them and shook his fists.

他从讲坛上向他们大声斥责,并且挥动双拳.

来自《简明英汉词典》

3. Every eye at the conference was focused on the rostrum.

代表们的眼光都集注在大会主席台上.

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4. You can go for a "rostrum" system, which sounds flash, but can be assembled quite cheaply.

可以去弄一个“指挥台”系统，它听起来很昂贵，但其实花不了多少钱就可以组装起来。

来自柯林斯例句

5. He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors.

他以校外辅导员身份,被邀请到主席台上.

来自《简明英汉词典》