abutment
nounUK /əˈbʌt.mn̩t/ · US /əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
Etymology First attested in 1644; engineering sense first attested in 1793. From Old French aboutement. Equivalent to abut + -ment.
9 senses
- 1The point of junction between two things, in particular…
- 2The solid portion of a structure that supports the…
- 3A construction that supports the ends of a bridge; a…
- 4The part of a valley or canyon wall against which a dam…
- 5Something that abuts, or on which something abuts.
- 6The state of abutting.
- 7That element that shares a common boundary or surface…
- 8The tooth that supports a denture or bridge.
- 9A fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained.
The point of junction between two things, in particular a support, that abuts.
Architecture, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences The solid portion of a structure that supports the lateral pressure of an arch or vault.
Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A construction that supports the ends of a bridge; a structure that anchors the cables on a suspension bridge.
- Each of the bridges consists of six separate girder spans on brick abutments.1959 May, “Talking of Trains: Bethnal Green alterations”, in Trains Illustrated, page 236:
Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences The part of a valley or canyon wall against which a dam is constructed.
- Heavy rains have caused the dam's abutments to seep, raising concern over possible dam failure.
Something that abuts, or on which something abuts.
The state of abutting.
Architecture That element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor.
A fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained.
- The fulcrum acted as an abutment.