mortise
noun/ˈmɔrtɪs/
Frequency rank: #19,612 most common English word
Meaning
A rectangular cavity cut into a piece of wood or other material to receive a corresponding tenon and form a joint.

Example sentence
The carpenter cut mortise into the wooden beam so that the tenon could fit snugly inside.
Synonyms & related words
Practice this word in the quiz
More words in ranks 19,601–19,700
- estrangeto cause someone to become distant or unfriendly; to alienate
- habituationthe process of becoming accustomed to something through repeated exposure, so that one reacts less strongly to it
- interjectiona word or phrase expressing sudden emotion, used as an exclamation.
- locativeRelating to or denoting a grammatical case that expresses location or place.
- monotonicunchanging in tone or pitch; lacking variation.
- palloran unhealthy pale appearance of the face or skin.
- presuppositionsomething assumed or taken for granted in advance, before discussion begins.
- brazingA metal-joining process that uses a filler metal melted at high temperature to bond two base metals without melting them.
- chiaroscuroThe use of strong contrasts between light and dark in a work of art to give the impression of depth and volume.
- circumpolarrelating to or denoting stars or constellations that are visible throughout the year from a given latitude because they never set below the horizon.