Definition of "tentpole" [tentpole]

• One of the poles used to hold up a tent. (noun)
• Of or pertaining to a large-scale entertainment production which is a major source of revenue for its studio, television network, or investors. (noun)

Wiktionary.org : Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

• "Jobs spent a good chunk of the event discussing the seventh "tentpole" - a centralized mobile ad network called (as rumored) "iAd.""
• "(More time is given, it seems, to the studio's first real star -- and original "tentpole" -- Rin Tin Tin.)"
• "TDTESS is described as a tentpole film for WB so I think they are expecting big things."