50 Historical

Architectural
Terms
By

History of Architecture (Arch12)

Stephens
 Term Definition Similar Picture
Words
1. Lintel A beam stretched Beam,
across the top of a Bar,
door way in order Overhead
to create stability
for the doorway

2. Obelisk A tall structure that Tower,

looks like a tall Spire,
rectangular prism Point
with a pyramid at
the top of the
structure.

3. Zoomorphic Structures that have Animal-like,

an animal-like look. Creature-like,

4. Anthropomorphic Structures that have Human-like,

a human-like look. Man,
Woman

5. Dentil A pattern of squares Specs,

across the top of a Bumps,
building. Boxes

6. Fluted The grooves running Striped,

on a column shaft or Lined,
a pilaster, but need
not necessarily be
Channeled
restricted to those
two applications
7. Megaron A great hall of Hallway,
the Grecian palace Center,
complexes. It was a
rectangular hall,
Meeting
fronted by an open,
two-columned porch,
and a more or less
central, open hearth
vented though
an oculus in the roof
above it and
surrounded by four
columns
8. Entasis A type of column Stretched,
that begins normal, Curved,
expands its Bulged
diameter at the
center of the height
of the column, and
shrinks back to
normal size at the
bottom

9. Doric A bold, strong Masculine,

order of Greek Strong,
columns. Bold
10. Ionic I more decorative Knowledgeabl
column order that e,
still has great Scholastic,
strength. Curled

11. Corinthian The most highly Leaf,

decorative order of Elegant,
Greek columns, yet Feminine
the weakest.

12. Base The bottom of a Support,

column used to Foundation,
extra support. Bottom

13. Porch A part of a temple Steps,

or a building that is Balcony,
elevated above the Deck
ground and uses
steps in

14. Pediment An outline in the Ornament,

shape of a polygon Accessory
above the doorway. Design
15. Frieze A center piece Ornament,
above a doorway Symbol,
that is highly Overhead
decorated.

16. Pilaster Columns that are Embedded,

embedded into the Encompassed,
building. Enclosed

17. Forum A public space in Debate center,

order to host Court,
debates and Discussion
discussions.

18. Triumphal Arch An enormous arch Gateway,

that is very Entrance,
symbolic that is Passageway
also used as a
gateway.

19. Nave The central Center,

approach to the Main,
high altar, the main Area
body of the church
20. Ambulatory The hallway of a Hallway,
cathedral used as a Walkway,
walkway. Alley

21. Apse a semicircular or End,

polygonal Recess,
end of a building. Backside

22. Chapel A private place of Church,

worship or prayer Worship,
within a larger Religion
complex.

23. Ogee A S-curved Point,

overhead with a Mosque,
sharp tip that is S-shaped
generally placed
above a door.
24. Transept The intersection in Edge,
a cathedral that Wing,
goes across the Traverse
building.

25. Narthex The front entrance Entrance,

section of a Opening,
cathedral Gateway

26. Scriptorum A room that is built Writing,

for writers to write Script,
documents in. Scholar

27. Abbey A Catholic Cathedral,

monastery. Church,
Catholicism

28. Cathedral A religious building Church,

structure that Religion,
general has a floor Christianity
plan in the shape of
a cross.
29. Rose Window A window that Flower,
resembles a rose Glass,
that contains Colored
colorful stained
glass.

30. Spire A pointed tower of Tower,

a building that is in Point,
the shape of a Obelisk
stretched pyramid.

31. Crypt A stone chamber Basement,

beneath the floor of Covert room,
a church usually Chapel
used as a chapel
32. Cloister A rectangular open Courtyard,
space surrounded Center,
by covered walks or Park
open galleries.

33. Oculus A circular opening Eye,

of a dome that Opening,
allows light to shine Lighting
through.

34. Façade The front, Front,

presentational part View,
of the building Appearance
structure.

35. Château A manor house or Chalet,

residence of House,
the lord of the Residence
manor usually
located in French-
speaking regions.

36. Mansart Roof A rood that curves Curved,

inward towards the Slanted,
center of the roof. Angled
37. Architrave The beam that rests Lintel,
on the columns Beam,
Bar

38. Rustication The decoration of Rocky,

rocks and stones embedded,
along the walls of a Stones
building.

39. Piano Noble The principal floor Main floor,

of a large estate. Center,
Principal floor

40. Baldachin A canopy of Canopy,

state over Top,
an altar or throne. Overhead
41. Fenestration The windows of a Windows,
building. Openings,
Glass

42. Rivet A metal pin having Bolt,

a head at one end, Screw,
used for holding Joiner
together two or
more plates.

43. Aqueduct A channel of water Canal,

that is maneuvered Channel,
to empty in a River
specific location to
drink

44. Flying Buttress An incline bar with Support,

a arch shape that is Arch,
placed on the side Brace
of a structure in
order to support the
large building.

45. Pendentive A spherical triangle Stand,

forming the Dome,
transition from the Legs
circular plan of a
dome to the plan of
its supporting
structure.

46. Interdome A space between Gap,

the inner and outer Empty Dome,
shells of the dome
47. Transom A crosspiece Beam,
separating a Bar,
doorway from a Lintel
window or fanlight
above it.

48. Groin Vault A vault that has an Cross-section,

Ceiling intersecting Intersection,
semicircular vaults. Indent

49. Barrel Vault A vault that has a Cylinder,

semicircular cross Barrel,
section. Tube

50. Crescent A curved street, Curve,

often having solid Arc,
facades of unified Circular
architectural
design.
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