flying buttress: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “flying buttress” mean?
An architectural structure consisting of an arched exterior support that transfers the thrust of a vault or roof from an upper part of a wall to an external pier, allowing for higher walls and larger windows.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An architectural structure consisting of an arched exterior support that transfers the thrust of a vault or roof from an upper part of a wall to an external pier, allowing for higher walls and larger windows.
Any external support or reinforcement, often used metaphorically to describe a person, system, or idea that provides crucial but indirect support to a central structure or endeavor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning or spelling. The term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotations are identical, strongly associated with Gothic cathedrals and high architectural achievement.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “flying buttress” in a Sentence
[The/These/Those] + flying buttress(es) + [support/brace/strengthen] + [noun phrase (e.g., the nave wall)][Noun phrase (e.g., The cathedral)] + [has/features/is supported by] + flying buttresses.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically: 'The new investment acted as a flying buttress for the company's expansion plans.'
Academic
Common in history of art and architecture: 'The development of the flying buttress was crucial to the evolution of Gothic architecture.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Precise description in engineering and architecture: 'The lateral thrust is channeled through the flying buttress to the pier.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flying buttress”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flying buttress”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flying buttress”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to flying buttress'). It is only a compound noun.
- Confusing it with a 'buttress' alone, which lacks the arched, detached element.
- Misspelling as 'flying butress' (single 't').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A standard buttress is a solid, thickened section of wall or a projecting support built directly against it. A flying buttress is a specific type that is detached from the main wall except for the connecting arch, forming a distinct, 'flying' arm.
No, it is exclusively a compound noun. The related verb is simply 'to buttress' (meaning to support or strengthen).
They are a defining feature of Gothic architecture, particularly from the 12th century onwards, though later styles sometimes used them decoratively.
Because the masonry support (the 'buttress') is not solidly attached to the wall it supports; it is connected by an arch, so it appears to be a separate, 'flying' element bridging the gap to a distant pier.
An architectural structure consisting of an arched exterior support that transfers the thrust of a vault or roof from an upper part of a wall to an external pier, allowing for higher walls and larger windows.
Flying buttress is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Flying buttress: in British English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈbʌt.rəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈbʌ.trəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to act as a flying buttress (metaphorical): To provide essential, often unseen, support to a main enterprise.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BUTTRESS (a support) that has decided to FLY away from the wall, connecting to it only with a stone arch. It 'flies' through the air to do its job.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPPORT IS AN EXTERNAL FRAME; STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IS DISTRIBUTED SUPPORT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a flying buttress?