buttress

noun/ˈbʌtrəs/

Frequency rank: #17,535 most common English word

Meaning

a structure built against a wall to strengthen or support it; or, to support or reinforce something.

Illustration for the English word “buttress”

Example sentence

The engineer decided to add buttress support along the old cathedral wall to keep it from collapsing.

Synonyms & related words

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