web member: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialized Technical
Quick answer
What does “web member” mean?
A structural component (typically a vertical or diagonal bar) within a truss or frame that connects and strengthens the upper and lower chords or flanges, designed to resist shear forces.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A structural component (typically a vertical or diagonal bar) within a truss or frame that connects and strengthens the upper and lower chords or flanges, designed to resist shear forces.
In a metaphorical sense, can refer to an integral and connecting element within a complex system or network, though this use is rare and highly specialized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. Spelling conventions (e.g., 'centre' vs. 'center' in related texts) may apply in surrounding text.
Connotations
Purely technical with no regional connotative difference.
Frequency
Equally rare and confined to engineering contexts in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “web member” in a Sentence
The [material/type] web member [verb: supports/connects/resists] the [structural element].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in engineering textbooks, research papers, and lecture notes on structural mechanics and construction.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in structural engineering, architecture, and construction for describing the load-bearing lattice within trusses, girders, and frames.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “web member”
- Using 'web member' to refer to a person involved in internet projects.
- Confusing 'web member' with the broader 'beam' or 'girder'. A web member is a part *inside* the beam.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. In this context, 'web' refers to the lattice-like interior structure of a beam or truss, akin to a spider's web.
Chords are the main horizontal (or top/bottom) members of a truss that resist bending moments. Web members are the smaller, often diagonal or vertical, interior members that connect the chords and resist shear forces.
Structural engineers, civil engineers, architects, construction managers, and steel fabricators.
Rarely. In highly technical drafting or design contexts, one might see 'web-membered' as a past participle describing how components are connected, but the noun form is vastly more common.
A structural component (typically a vertical or diagonal bar) within a truss or frame that connects and strengthens the upper and lower chords or flanges, designed to resist shear forces.
Web member is usually specialized technical in register.
Web member: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɛb ˌmɛmbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɛb ˌmɛmbɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a steel bridge's latticework. The long top and bottom beams are the 'chords.' The many smaller, connecting bars forming the lattice in the middle are the WEB MEMBERS, like members of a team holding the web together.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STRUCTURE IS A BODY: The web members are like the ribs or connective tissue between the main bones (chords).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a web member in structural engineering?