Civil engineering
Structures, transport, water and the built environment.
Areas within Civil engineering
Mechanical engineering
Machines, movement, forces, heat and manufacturing.
143 wordsCivil engineering
Structures, transport, water and the built environment.
658 wordsElectrical engineering
Electricity, electronics, control and power systems.
141 wordsSystems engineering
Complex systems, requirements, interfaces and lifecycle design.
7 wordsEngineering design
Requirements, design decisions, prototyping and verification.
9 wordsMaterials engineering
The properties, selection and performance of engineering materials.
90 words120 featured terms
The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.
(physics) force that produces strain on a physical body; "the intensity of stress is expressed in units of force divided by units of area"
Basenounlowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
Beamnounlong thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction
Bridgenouna structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
Constructionnouna thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…
Footnounlowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
Foundationnounlowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
Fundamentnounlowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
Groundworknounlowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
Loadverbput (something) on a structure or conveyance; "load the bags onto the trucks"
Spannouna structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
Steelnounan alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
Structurenouna thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…
Substructurenounlowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
Understructurenounlowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
BucklingnounWhen a structure bends or collapses sideways under pressure.
load-bearingadjectiveAble to carry weight as part of a structure.
Breaking pointnounthe degree of tension or stress at which something breaks
Mechanical stressnounelastic stress (any deformation of a solid material) and viscous stress (the gradual changing of the deformation) combined.; "The relation betwe…
Tensionnoun(physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body; "the direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the di…
Altarnouna raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made
Arcadenouna structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns
Archnoun(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it
Areanouna part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants"
Arenanouna large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
Balancenounequality of distribution
Balconynouna platform projecting from the wall of a building and surrounded by a balustrade or railing or parapet
Balconynounan upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium
Balknounone of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
Basculenouna structure or device in which one end is counterbalanced by the other (on the principle of the seesaw)
Baulknounone of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
Bednouna foundation of earth or rock supporting a road or railroad track; "the track bed had washed away"
Boardingnouna structure of boards
Bodynounthe external structure of a vehicle; "the body of the car was badly rusted"
Bowlnouna large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
Buildingnouna structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…
Cantilevernounprojecting horizontal beam fixed at one end only
Catchmentnouna structure in which water is collected (especially a natural drainage area)
Coilnouna structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"
Colonnadenouna structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns
Colonnadenounstructure consisting of a row of evenly spaced columns
Columnnouna vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)
Complexnouna whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structures
Cornernoun(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone
Counterbalancenounequality of distribution
Crossnouna wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece
Crossbeamnouna horizontal beam that extends across something
Crosspiecenouna horizontal beam that extends across something
Defencenouna structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"
Defensenouna structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"
Dividernouna vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)
Doornouna structure where people live or work (usually ordered along a street or road); "the office next door"; "they live two doors up the street from…
Drawbridgenouna bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it
Edificenouna structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…
Entablaturenoun(architecture) the structure consisting of the part of a classical temple above the columns between a capital and the roof
Equilibriumnounequality of distribution
Equipoisenounequality of distribution
Erectionnouna structure that has been erected
Establishmentnouna public or private structure (business or governmental or educational) including buildings and equipment for business or residence
Floornouna structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"
Footbridgenouna bridge designed for pedestrians
Fountainnouna structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
Girdernouna beam made usually of steel; a main support in a structure
Guidenouna structure or marking that serves to direct the motion or positioning of something
Headernouna framing member crossing and supporting the ends of joists, studs, or rafters so as to transfer their weight to parallel joists, studs, or raft…
Headernounhorizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window
Helixnouna structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"
Hillnounstructure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones; "they built small mounds to hide behind"
Honeycombnouna structure of small hexagonal cells constructed from beeswax by bees and used to store honey and larvae
Housingnounstructures collectively in which people are housed
Hullnounthe frame or body of ship
Impedimentnounany structure that makes progress difficult
Joistnounbeam used to support floors or roofs
Keelnounone of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability
Keelsonnouna longitudinal beam connected to the keel of ship to strengthen it
Laminationnouna layered structure
Landingnounstructure providing a place where boats can land people or goods
Levelnouna structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"
Lintelnounhorizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window
Lodgingnounstructures collectively in which people are housed
Lookoutnouna structure commanding a wide view of its surroundings
Masonrynounstructure built of stone or brick by a mason
Matnouna foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concrete
Memorialnouna structure erected to commemorate persons or events
Monumentnouna structure erected to commemorate persons or events
Moundnounstructure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones; "they built small mounds to hide behind"
Observatorynouna structure commanding a wide view of its surroundings
Obstructernounany structure that makes progress difficult
Obstructionnounany structure that makes progress difficult
Offsetnounstructure where a wall or building narrows abruptly
Overpassnounbridge formed by the upper level of a crossing of two highways at different levels
Partitionnouna vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)
Pillarnouna vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)
Platformnounany military structure or vehicle bearing weapons
Porchnouna structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
Projectionnounany structure that branches out from a central support
Quoinnoun(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone
Raftnouna foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concrete
Rafternounone of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
Ridgenouna beam laid along the edge where two sloping sides of a roof meet at the top; provides an attachment for the upper ends of rafters
Ridgepolenouna beam laid along the edge where two sloping sides of a roof meet at the top; provides an attachment for the upper ends of rafters
Rooftreenouna beam laid along the edge where two sloping sides of a roof meet at the top; provides an attachment for the upper ends of rafters
Sailnounany structure that resembles a sail
Shelternouna structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
Shorenouna beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support
Shoringnouna beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support
Signnounstructure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted; "the highway was lined with signboards"
Signboardnounstructure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted; "the highway was lined with signboards"
Spiralnouna structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"
Stadiumnouna large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
Storeynouna structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"
Storynouna structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"
Superstructurenounstructure consisting of the part of a ship above the main deck
Tienouna horizontal beam used to prevent two other structural members from spreading apart or separating; "he nailed the rafters together with a tie be…
Timbernouna beam made of wood
Towernouna structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
Transeptnounstructure forming the transverse part of a cruciform church; crosses the nave at right angles
Travenouna horizontal beam that extends across something
Traversenouna horizontal beam that extends across something
Trestleworknouna supporting structure composed of a system of connected trestles; for a bridge or pier or scaffold e.g.
