Specialist dictionary

Civil engineering

Structures, transport, water and the built environment.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Stressnoun

(physics) force that produces strain on a physical body; "the intensity of stress is expressed in units of force divided by units of area"

Basenoun

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

Beamnoun

long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction

Bridgenoun

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

Constructionnoun

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…

Footnoun

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

Foundationnoun

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

Fundamentnoun

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

Groundworknoun

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

Loadverb

put (something) on a structure or conveyance; "load the bags onto the trucks"

Spannoun

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

Steelnoun

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

Structurenoun

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…

Substructurenoun

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

Understructurenoun

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

Bucklingnoun

When a structure bends or collapses sideways under pressure.

load-bearingadjective

Able to carry weight as part of a structure.

Breaking pointnoun

the degree of tension or stress at which something breaks

Mechanical stressnoun

elastic 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…

Altarnoun

a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made

Arcadenoun

a 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

Areanoun

a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants"

Arenanoun

a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

Balancenoun

equality of distribution

Balconynoun

a platform projecting from the wall of a building and surrounded by a balustrade or railing or parapet

Balconynoun

an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium

Balknoun

one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof

Basculenoun

a structure or device in which one end is counterbalanced by the other (on the principle of the seesaw)

Baulknoun

one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof

Bednoun

a foundation of earth or rock supporting a road or railroad track; "the track bed had washed away"

Boardingnoun

a structure of boards

Bodynoun

the external structure of a vehicle; "the body of the car was badly rusted"

Bowlnoun

a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

Buildingnoun

a 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…

Cantilevernoun

projecting horizontal beam fixed at one end only

Catchmentnoun

a structure in which water is collected (especially a natural drainage area)

Coilnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"

Colonnadenoun

a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns

Colonnadenoun

structure consisting of a row of evenly spaced columns

Columnnoun

a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)

Complexnoun

a 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

Counterbalancenoun

equality of distribution

Crossnoun

a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece

Crossbeamnoun

a horizontal beam that extends across something

Crosspiecenoun

a horizontal beam that extends across something

Defencenoun

a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"

Defensenoun

a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"

Dividernoun

a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)

Doornoun

a 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…

Drawbridgenoun

a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it

Edificenoun

a 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

Equilibriumnoun

equality of distribution

Equipoisenoun

equality of distribution

Erectionnoun

a structure that has been erected

Establishmentnoun

a public or private structure (business or governmental or educational) including buildings and equipment for business or residence

Floornoun

a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"

Footbridgenoun

a bridge designed for pedestrians

Fountainnoun

a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises

Girdernoun

a beam made usually of steel; a main support in a structure

Guidenoun

a structure or marking that serves to direct the motion or positioning of something

Headernoun

a framing member crossing and supporting the ends of joists, studs, or rafters so as to transfer their weight to parallel joists, studs, or raft…

Headernoun

horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window

Helixnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"

Hillnoun

structure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones; "they built small mounds to hide behind"

Honeycombnoun

a structure of small hexagonal cells constructed from beeswax by bees and used to store honey and larvae

Housingnoun

structures collectively in which people are housed

Hullnoun

the frame or body of ship

Impedimentnoun

any structure that makes progress difficult

Joistnoun

beam used to support floors or roofs

Keelnoun

one of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability

Keelsonnoun

a longitudinal beam connected to the keel of ship to strengthen it

Laminationnoun

a layered structure

Landingnoun

structure providing a place where boats can land people or goods

Levelnoun

a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"

Lintelnoun

horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window

Lodgingnoun

structures collectively in which people are housed

Lookoutnoun

a structure commanding a wide view of its surroundings

Masonrynoun

structure built of stone or brick by a mason

Matnoun

a foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concrete

Memorialnoun

a structure erected to commemorate persons or events

Monumentnoun

a structure erected to commemorate persons or events

Moundnoun

structure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones; "they built small mounds to hide behind"

Observatorynoun

a structure commanding a wide view of its surroundings

Obstructernoun

any structure that makes progress difficult

Obstructionnoun

any structure that makes progress difficult

Offsetnoun

structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly

Overpassnoun

bridge formed by the upper level of a crossing of two highways at different levels

Partitionnoun

a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)

Pillarnoun

a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)

Platformnoun

any military structure or vehicle bearing weapons

Porchnoun

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

Projectionnoun

any structure that branches out from a central support

Quoinnoun

(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone

Raftnoun

a foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concrete

Rafternoun

one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof

Ridgenoun

a 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

Ridgepolenoun

a 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

Rooftreenoun

a 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

Sailnoun

any structure that resembles a sail

Shelternoun

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

Shorenoun

a beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support

Shoringnoun

a beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support

Signnoun

structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted; "the highway was lined with signboards"

Signboardnoun

structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted; "the highway was lined with signboards"

Spiralnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"

Stadiumnoun

a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

Storeynoun

a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"

Storynoun

a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"

Superstructurenoun

structure consisting of the part of a ship above the main deck

Tienoun

a horizontal beam used to prevent two other structural members from spreading apart or separating; "he nailed the rafters together with a tie be…

Timbernoun

a beam made of wood

Towernoun

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

Transeptnoun

structure forming the transverse part of a cruciform church; crosses the nave at right angles

Travenoun

a horizontal beam that extends across something

Traversenoun

a horizontal beam that extends across something

Trestleworknoun

a supporting structure composed of a system of connected trestles; for a bridge or pier or scaffold e.g.