Civil Engineering Concepts

noun the study of the motion of air and other gases and of the effects of such motion on bodies in the gas

• The engineers conducted extensive research on the aerodynamics of the new aircraft design.
• The car's aerodynamics were improved by adding a spoiler to the back.
• I can feel the aerodynamics kicking in when I drive this fast.
• His argument had the aerodynamics of a well-crafted speech, smoothly guiding the audience to his conclusion.

noun the fundamental principles on which something is based

• The bedrock of this theory is based on empirical evidence.
• The bedrock of our friendship is trust and loyalty.
• She's been my rock, my bedrock through everything.
• Honesty and integrity are the bedrock of a strong character.

noun a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory, used for a particular purpose

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• The architect presented the blueprints for the new building to the city council.
• We're meeting at the new building downtown for lunch today.
• That building is lit, we should definitely check it out.
• Education is the building blocks of a successful career.

noun the land next to the sea; the edge of the land

verb to move without using power; to go downhill without effort

• The coastal region is known for its stunning beaches and picturesque views.
• Let's take a road trip along the coast this weekend.
• I love chilling by the coast, it's so relaxing.
• She felt like she was coasting through life without any real challenges.

noun a building material made from a mixture of cement, sand, and water

adjective relating to or denoting a material or substance that is solid and firm to the touch

• The engineer specified that the building foundation must be made of reinforced concrete.
• I accidentally spilled some concrete mix on the driveway.
• Let's pour some concrete and make this project solid.
• The artist's vision was still in the concrete stage, waiting to be fully realized.

noun a stone or concrete edging along the side of a street or sidewalk

• The car mounted the curbstone and caused damage to the front bumper.
• Watch out for that curbstone, you don't want to trip over it.
• I nearly wiped out on my skateboard when I hit that curbstone.
• The strict rules acted as a curbstone on their creativity.

noun A person who creates technical drawings or plans, typically an architect or engineer

• The draughtsman meticulously drafted the architectural plans for the new building.
• The draughtsman is really talented at drawing up designs for buildings.
• That draughtsman is a wizard with a pencil and ruler!
• The artist was a draughtsman of emotions, capturing the complexities of human experience in his drawings.

noun the construction of such works

• The construction company specializes in building large-scale earthworks for infrastructure projects.
• We're going to need some heavy machinery to tackle that earthwork project next week.
• I can't believe we have to do all this earthwork by hand, it's going to be a tough job.
• The artist's sculpture resembled a complex earthwork, with layers of meaning waiting to be unearthed.

noun a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic, usually having a divider strip or barrier separating the traffic moving in opposite directions

• The new expressway will significantly reduce travel time between the two cities.
• Let's take the expressway to get there faster.
• We cruised down the expressway to reach the concert on time.
• The expressway to success is paved with hard work and dedication.

verb to cover or submerge with water, especially in excess

• The town was flooded after heavy rainfall caused the river to overflow.
• The basement got flooded because of the leaky pipe.
• The party was so crowded, it was flooded with people.
• Her mind was flooded with memories of their time together.

noun a wide road for fast-moving traffic, typically in a rural area

• The freeway was congested with rush hour traffic.
• Let's take the freeway to get to the mall faster.
• I saw a crazy driver speeding on the freeway yesterday.
• His mind was like a freeway, full of thoughts racing in different directions.

noun a main road, especially one connecting major cities or towns

• The highway was congested with traffic during rush hour.
• Let's take the highway to get to the concert faster.
• We cruised down the highway with the top down.
• Success is not a destination but a journey along the highway of hard work and determination.

adjective not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by

• The new material is impervious to water and air, making it ideal for use in construction.
• She seems impervious to criticism, always staying positive no matter what.
• He acts like he's impervious to consequences, but eventually he'll face the music.
• Her heart had become impervious to love after so many heartbreaks.

noun an overwhelming majority of votes for one candidate in an election

• The recent heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in the mountainous region.
• Did you hear about the landslide up in the hills? It's crazy!
• The landslide messed up the road real bad.
• After the scandal broke, there was a political landslide within the party.

noun a rock formation that is visible on the surface of the earth

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• The geologists studied the geological formations, including the outcrop of rocks.
• We hiked up the hill and found a cool outcrop to take pictures on.
• Let's climb up to that outcrop and chill for a bit.
• The outcrop of talent in the music industry is truly impressive.

noun a bridge or structure carrying a road or railway over a river, road, or other obstacle

• The highway overpass provides a convenient route for drivers to bypass traffic.
• Let's meet at the overpass near the park for a quick chat.
• I saw some graffiti under the overpass on my way home.
• She felt like she was standing on an emotional overpass, unsure which direction to take.

noun a vertical joint in brickwork

verb to build or lay bricks in a vertical position

• The architect ensured that the columns were perfectly perpend to the ground.
• Make sure to perpend the shelves evenly so they don't look crooked.
• I tried to perpend the posters on my wall, but they kept falling off.
• His decision to perpend to the traditional values of his family caused quite a stir.

adjective allowing liquid or air to pass through

• The porous membrane allows certain molecules to pass through while blocking others.
• The sponge is so porous, it soaks up water like a champ.
• His excuses are as porous as a sieve - nothing holds up under scrutiny.
• Her mind was like a porous sponge, absorbing information effortlessly.

adjective suitable for drinking; drinkable

• The water treatment plant ensures that all water supplied to the city is potable.
• Make sure you only drink water from the tap if it's potable.
• I wouldn't risk drinking that water unless it's potable.
• His words were like potable water in the desert of misinformation.

noun a wall used to support or retain soil or water on one side

• The retaining wall was constructed to prevent soil erosion in the hilly area.
• They built a retaining wall to stop the soil from sliding down the slope.
• We put up a big wall to hold back the dirt on the hill.
• Sometimes we need a mental retaining wall to keep negative thoughts from overwhelming us.

noun a town in New York

• The town of Riverhead is located on the North Fork of Long Island.
• Let's take a trip to Riverhead for some shopping and dining.
• I heard Riverhead is a cool spot to hang out on the weekends.
• The riverhead of creativity flows endlessly in the minds of artists.

noun the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic substances, clay, and rock particles

• The soil composition in this region is ideal for agriculture.
• I love playing in the soil when gardening.
• Hey, let's get our hands dirty in the soil and plant some flowers!
• The soil of creativity must be nurtured in order for ideas to grow.

noun a structure used to control the flow of water, typically in a dam or reservoir

• The spillway was designed to safely release excess water from the reservoir.
• I heard they had to open the spillway to prevent flooding in the area.
• The spillway was like, totally overflowing after all that rain.
• Her emotions were like a spillway, overflowing and difficult to contain.

verb to become less intense, severe, or prominent; to decrease or diminish in strength or intensity

• The floodwaters were slowly subsiding, allowing residents to return to their homes.
• After the storm, the rain is finally subsiding and the sun is coming out.
• I can't believe how quickly my headache is subsiding after taking that pill.
• As time passed, his anger towards the situation was subsiding, and he was able to think more rationally.

noun A person whose job is to examine and record the details of a piece of land, usually for the purpose of creating a map or determining property boundaries

• The surveyor carefully measured the land to create an accurate map.
• The surveyor dude was out there with his measuring tape, doing his thing.
• The surveyor was on site, checking out the lay of the land.
• As a surveyor of human behavior, she was skilled at reading people's emotions.

noun a map or chart showing the physical features of an area

adjective relating to the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area

• The topographic map displayed the elevation and terrain features of the area.
• I found a cool topographic map of the hiking trail we want to explore.
• Check out this sick topographic map of the mountain range!
• The topographic nature of her emotions made it difficult to navigate her feelings.

noun the vehicles moving along a road or street

verb to deal or trade in something illegal or improper

• The increase in population has resulted in heavier traffic on the roads.
• I was late to work because of all the traffic this morning.
• I hate sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, it's the worst.
• The flow of ideas in the meeting was like traffic on a busy highway, constantly moving and changing.

noun an underground passage or tunnel allowing pedestrians to cross a road or railway

• The city council approved the construction of a new underpass to improve traffic flow.
• Let's take a shortcut through the underpass to get to the other side of the highway faster.
• I heard there's some cool graffiti in the underpass near the park.
• She felt like she was stuck in an emotional underpass, unable to move forward.

verb to raise up or lift upwards

• The artist used a crane to uprear the large sculpture in the town square.
• I watched as the workers upreared the tent for the outdoor event.
• Let's uprear this project and get it done before the deadline.
• The leader's charisma and passion upreared the spirits of the team during a difficult time.

noun A path for pedestrians, usually paved or surfaced for easy walking

• The walkway was lined with beautiful flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges.
• Let's take a stroll down the walkway and enjoy the fresh air.
• I tripped and almost face-planted on the walkway, it was embarrassing.
• The walkway to success is paved with hard work and determination.

noun a method of organizing land use through regulations and restrictions in a specific area

• The city council is currently reviewing the zoning regulations for commercial properties.
• I heard they're changing up the zoning rules for building heights downtown.
• The zoning laws in this area are a real pain in the neck.
• She felt like her life was stuck in a zoning pattern, unable to break free and explore new opportunities.

noun a dense, fine-grained sandstone that is typically blue-gray in color

adjective describing a type of stone that is blue-gray in color

• The historic building was constructed using bluestone sourced from a nearby quarry.
• I love the look of bluestone patios in backyard designs.
• That bluestone pathway is lit!
• Her eyes were as cold and unyielding as bluestone.

noun a visual signal to control the flow of vehicles at intersections

adjective describing the type or condition of the signal

• The traffic signal turned red, indicating that it was time for the cars to stop.
• Hey, did you see that traffic signal change to green just in time for us?
• I almost ran the traffic signal because I was in a hurry.
• Her smile was like a traffic signal, brightening up the room.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a river

• The riverine ecosystem is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species.
• We had a great time camping by the riverine area last weekend.
• Let's go chill by the riverine spot, it's so peaceful there.
• Her thoughts flowed like a riverine stream, constantly changing and evolving.

noun the quality of being porous, or full of tiny holes that allow liquids or gases to pass through

• The porosity of the soil determines its ability to retain water.
• The sponge has high porosity, so it soaks up a lot of water.
• I love how porous this bread is, it's so fluffy!
• His mind had a certain porosity that allowed new ideas to flow in easily.

noun the science or art of making surveys of bodies of water, such as seas, lakes, and rivers, and of preparing charts or maps showing the physical features of the area

• The study of hydrography involves mapping and measuring bodies of water.
• Hydrography is all about studying water and its features.
• I'm really into hydrography - it's like the science of water stuff.
• Exploring the depths of hydrography can lead to a better understanding of our world.

noun a process used in wastewater treatment to break down organic matter using microorganisms in aeration tanks

• The activated sludge process is a common method used in wastewater treatment plants.
• They use the activated sludge process to clean up the water before releasing it back into the environment.
• They run the activated sludge process to get rid of all the nasty stuff in the water.
• The activated sludge process works like a natural filter, removing impurities from the water.

noun a condition in which something is frozen or stuck together by ice

verb to freeze or become stuck together by ice

• Adfreeze is a term used in geotechnical engineering to describe the freezing of soil around a structure.
• I had never heard of adfreeze until I started studying civil engineering.
• I'm so over this adfreeze weather, I need some sunshine!
• The tension in the room was like an adfreeze, nobody wanted to make a move.

noun a type of attachment used in scientific instruments to measure wind speed or direction

adjective related to the measurement of wind speed or direction using aeolian attachments

• The aeolian attachment on the instrument allows for precise control over the sound produced.
• I love how the aeolian attachment on this guitar makes it sound so unique.
• Check out the cool aeolian attachment on this synth, it's lit!
• The aeolian attachment on her voice seemed to amplify the emotion in her singing.

noun a type of lightweight concrete that is made by introducing air or gas bubbles into the mixture to reduce its density and improve insulation properties

• Aerated concrete is a type of lightweight concrete that is produced by adding air bubbles to the mixture.
• I heard that aerated concrete is great for building because it's strong and lightweight.
• Aerated concrete is like the bubble wrap of building materials - light and easy to work with.
• Using aerated concrete in your construction project is like adding a breath of fresh air to the design.

noun a type of photograph taken from an aircraft or satellite in which the camera is not supported by the ground

adjective describing the type of photograph being taken from above

preposition used in the phrase 'aerial photograph' to indicate the type of photograph being referred to

• The urban planner used an aerial photograph to analyze the city's layout.
• I found an aerial photograph of our neighborhood from a few years ago.
• Check out this cool aerial pic I took with my drone!
• The artist's painting was like an aerial photograph of the landscape, capturing every detail perfectly.

noun a building material made from cement and air bubbles, used for insulation and lightweight construction

• Aerocrete is a lightweight concrete material that is often used in construction for its insulating properties.
• I heard they're using aerocrete for the new building project down the street.
• The aerocrete blocks are so much easier to work with than traditional concrete.
• Her ideas were as light and airy as aerocrete, floating effortlessly through the conversation.