Buildings & Architecture
Places · 111 words
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111 words
- aisle/aɪ̯l/noun · A2+The narrow walking space between the rows of seats.
- alcove/ˈæl.kəʊv/noun · C1A small recess set back into a wall.
- altar/ˈɒl.tə/noun · B2The table at the holy end of a church.
- aqueduct/ˈæk.wɪˌdʌkt/noun · B2+A bridge built to carry water across a valley.
- arch/ɑɹt͡ʃ/noun · B2A curved opening that carries weight over a gap.
- archway/ˈɑɹt͡ʃˌweɪ/noun · B2+A passage under a curved span.
- atrium/ˈeɪ.tɹi.əm/noun · C1A tall open space rising through the middle of a building.
- attic/ˈætɪk/noun · B1The room at the very top of a house, under the roof, full of old boxes.
- awning/ˈɔːnɪŋ/noun · B2+A sheet of cloth stretched out over a window or door for shade.
- balustrade/ˌbæl.əˈstɹeɪd/noun · C1The row of small posts along the edge of a balcony.
- banister/ˈbænɪstɚ/noun · B2+The rail your hand slides along as you climb the stairs.
- barn[ˈbɑɹn]noun · B1A big farm building for animals or crops.
- basement flatnoun · B1A home below street level.
- battlement[ˈbætəɫmənt]noun · C1The notched wall along the top of a castle.
- bay windownoun · B2A window that projects outward from the wall.
- belfry/ˈbɛlfɹi/noun · C1The part of a tower where the bells hang.
- blueprint/ˈbluːˌpɹɪnt/noun · B2The detailed drawing a building is built from.
- brickwork/ˈbɹɪk.wɝk/noun · B2+The pattern in which bricks have been laid.
- bungalow/ˈbʌŋɡələʊ/noun · B1+A house all on one level.
- buttress/ˈbʌtɹəs/noun · C1A stone support built against a wall to stop it spreading.
- canopy roofnoun · B2A small roof projecting over an entrance.
- cantilever/ˈkantɪliːvə/noun · C1A beam supported at one end only, reaching out into space.
- cellar/ˈsɛlə/noun · B2An underground room used for storing things, often wine.
- chalet/ˈʃæleɪ/noun · B2+A wooden mountain house with a wide overhanging roof.
- chimney stacknoun · B2The tall pipe carrying smoke away.
- colonnade/ˌkɒləˈneɪd/noun · C1A long row of columns carrying a roof.
- column/ˈkɒləm/noun · A2+A regular opinion piece by the same writer each week.
- conservation areanoun · B2A district where changes to buildings are controlled.
- conservatory/kənˈsɜː.və.tɹi/noun · C1A glass room built onto a house for plants.
- corridor/ˈkɒɹɪdɔː/noun · B2The long passage inside a building that rooms open onto.
- courtyard/ˈkɔɹt.jɑɹd/noun · B1+An open space enclosed by the walls of a building.
- crypt/kɹɪpt/noun · B2+A stone room beneath a church, used for burials.
- demolish/dɪˈmɒl.ɪʃ/verb · B2+To knock a building down completely.
- derelict/ˈdɛr.ə.lɪkt/adjective · C2Abandoned and falling down.
- dilapidated/dɪˈlæpɪdeɪtəd/adjective · C1In bad repair, with everything crumbling.
- dome/dəʊm/noun · B1+A rounded roof shaped like half a ball.
- dormer/ˈdɔɹmɚ/noun · C1A small window that sticks out from a sloping roof.
- drawbridge/ˈdɹɔːbɹɪd͡ʒ/noun · B2+A bridge that lifts to close a castle off.
- eaves/iːvz/noun · C1The part of a roof that overhangs the wall.
- elevation/ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃn̩/noun · C1A drawing of one flat face of a building.
- extension/ɪkˈstɛnʃən/noun · B2A new part built onto an existing building.
- facade/fəˈsɑ(ː)d/noun · C1The false front someone shows the world; also, a building's face.
- factory floornoun · B2The open working level where things are made.
- floor plannoun · B2A drawing of a building seen from above.
- flyover/ˈflaɪˌəʊvə/noun · B2+A road carried on a bridge over another road.
- footing/ˈfʊtɪŋ/noun · C1The widened base of a wall, spreading its weight.
- foundation/ˌfaʊ̯nˈdeɪ̯ʃən/noun · B2The solid base a building stands on, below ground.
- foyer/ˈfɔɪ.eɪ/noun · B2+The entrance hall of a public building.
- frieze/ˈfɹiːz/noun · C1A decorated band running along the top of a wall.
- gable/ˈɡeɪ.bəl/noun · C1The triangle of wall under the two slopes of a roof.
- gargoyle/ˈɡɑːɡɔɪl/noun · B2+A carved monster that throws rainwater clear of a wall.
- gazebo/ɡəˈziːbəʊ/noun · B2+A small open garden building to sit in.
- girder/ˈɡɜːdə(ɹ)/noun · B2+A great steel beam carrying a building's weight.
- high-risenoun · B2A tall block of flats or offices.
- hut/hʌt/noun · B1A small rough building of one room.
- keystone/ˈkiː.stəʊn/noun · C1The central wedge at the top of an arch that locks it.
- landing/ˈlændɪŋ/noun · B2The flat area at the top of a flight of stairs.
- lighthouse/ˈlaɪthaʊs/noun · B1The tall tower whose turning beam warns ships away from rocks.
- lintel/ˈlɪn.təl/noun · C1The beam bridging the top of a door or window.
- listed buildingnoun · C1A building protected by law because of its history.
- load-bearingadjective · B2Carrying the weight of what is above it.
- lobby/ˈlɒb.i/noun · B1The open room just inside the doors of a large building.
- loft conversionnoun · B2A roof space turned into a room.
- manor/ˈmænə(ɹ)/noun · B2A large old country house with land around it.
- mansion/ˈmæn.ʃən/noun · B2A huge, impressive house of the rich.
- masonry/ˈmeɪsənɹi/noun · C1Stone or brickwork, taken as a whole.
- mezzanine/ˈmɛzəniːn/noun · C1A low floor built between two main storeys.
- moat/məʊt/noun · B2+A wide water-filled ditch around a castle.
- mortar/ˈmɔːtə/noun · B2+The paste that binds bricks and stones.
- mosaic/məʊˈzeɪk/noun · B2+A picture built from thousands of small coloured pieces.
- niche/niːʃ/noun · C1The small special spot that fits you perfectly — in a market or wall.
- observatory domenoun · C1The turning roof that opens for a telescope.
- parapet/ˈpæɹəpɪt/noun · C1A low wall along the edge of a roof or bridge.
- partition/pɑːˈtɪ.ʃən/noun · B2+A light wall dividing one room into two.
- pavilion/pəˈvɪljən/noun · B2+A light building at the edge of a sports field.
- pediment/ˈpɛd.ɪ.mənt/noun · C2The triangular piece above the columns of a classical front.
- pew/ˈpjuː/noun · B2+A long wooden bench in a church.
- pillar/ˈpɪlə/noun · B1+A tall upright support, round or square.
- planning permission/ˈplænɪŋ pəˈmɪʃən/noun · B2The council's agreement that you may build.
- portcullis/pɔːtˈkʌl.ɪs/noun · C2A heavy grating dropped to block a gateway.
- portico/ˈpɔːtɪkəʊ/noun · C1A covered entrance with columns in front of a doorway.
- refurbish/ɹiːˈfɜːbɪʃ/verb · C1To clean up and re-equip an interior.
- render/ˈɹɛn.də/noun · C2The hard outer layer spread over an outside wall.
- renovate/ˈɹɛn.nə(ʊ).veɪt/verb · B2+To repair and modernise an old building.
- restored/ɹɪˈstɔɹd/adjective · B1+Repaired carefully back to its original state.
- retrofit/ˌɹɛtɹəʊˈfɪt/verb · C1To fit new systems into an old building.
- scale modelnoun · B2A small copy built to show what the real thing will look like.
- shack/ʃæk/noun · B2A roughly built shelter of scraps.
- shuttersnoun · B1+Hinged panels closed over a window at night.
- silo/ˈsaɪləʊ/noun · B2+A tall tower for storing grain.
- skylight/ˈskaɪˌlaɪt/noun · B2A window set into a roof.
- skyscraper/ˈskaɪˌskɹeɪpɚ/noun · B1+A building so tall it seems to touch the clouds.
- spire/spaɪə/noun · C2The tall pointed top of a church tower.
- stained glassnoun · B2Coloured glass set in lead to make a window picture.
- stairwell/ˈstɛəwɛl/noun · B2The vertical shaft that holds a staircase.
- steeple/ˈsti(ː)pəl/noun · B2+A tower with a pointed top on a church.
- storey/ˈstɔː.ɹɪ/noun · B1+One whole floor level of a building.
- suspension bridgenoun · B2A bridge hung from cables slung between towers.
- terrace/ˈtɛɹəs/noun · B2A row of houses joined in one continuous block.
- threshold/ˈθɹɛʃəʊld/noun · C1The strip of floor under a doorway — carried across at weddings.
- timber framenoun · B2A building whose skeleton is made of wood.
- townhouse/ˈtaʊnˌhaʊs/noun · B2+A tall narrow house in a city row.
- truss/tɹʌs/noun · C1A rigid triangle of beams that spans a wide roof.
- tunnel/ˈtʌn(ə)l/noun · A2The long hole through a mountain or under a river that traffic passes through.
- turret/ˈtʌɹɪt/noun · C2A small tower on the corner of a building.
- underpassnoun · B1+A walkway or road that passes beneath another road.
- vault/vɒlt/noun · B2An arched stone ceiling.
- veranda/vəˈɹæn.də/noun · B2+A roofed open platform along the side of a house.
- viaduct/ˈvaɪədʌkt/noun · C1A long bridge of arches carrying a road or railway.
- warehouse/ˈwɛə(ɹ)haʊs/noun · B2A big building where goods are stored before they are sold.