Civil Engineering Terminology

noun a powdery substance made by calcining lime and clay, mixed with water to form mortar or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete

• The construction workers used cement to build the foundation of the new building.
• I need to pick up some cement from the store for our DIY project.
• Let's grab some cement and fix that fence before it falls down.
• Trust is the cement that holds relationships together.

noun a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'construct' can be a noun when referring to something that has been built or created.

verb a verb is a word that expresses an action or a state of being. 'Construct' can also be a verb when it is used to describe the action of building or creating something.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun. 'Construct' can be used as an adjective in phrases like 'constructive criticism' where it describes the type of criticism being given.

• The architect was tasked with overseeing the construct of the new office building.
• We're helping our neighbor construct a new shed in their backyard.
• Let's get together and construct a killer playlist for the party.
• She carefully constructed her argument to win over the jury.

noun a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railroad

• The culvert under the road allows for proper drainage during heavy rain.
• Watch out for the culvert on the side of the road, it's easy to miss.
• I almost drove my bike into the culvert, it was a close call.
• The culvert of emotions overflowed as she couldn't contain her feelings anymore.

noun a long artificial mound of earth and stone, built to hold back water, for protection or to support a road

• The engineers reinforced the embankment to prevent erosion.
• Let's have a picnic on the embankment by the river.
• I saw some kids skateboarding down the embankment yesterday.
• She felt like she was on the edge of an emotional embankment, ready to break down at any moment.

verb to gradually wear away or diminish

• The constant exposure to harsh weather conditions caused the rocks to erode over time.
• The waves erode the sand on the beach every day.
• That gossip will erode your reputation if you're not careful.
• The lies began to erode the trust between them.

noun the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents

• The coastal erosion is a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
• The erosion of the beach is getting worse every year.
• Man, that erosion is eating away at the shoreline like crazy.
• The erosion of trust between them was evident in their strained conversations.

noun a deep narrow channel or ravine with a stream running through it

• The engineer designed a new flume to efficiently direct water flow in the irrigation system.
• Let's go tubing down the flume at the water park!
• The flume at the amusement park was lit, dude!
• Her words flowed through his mind like a fast-moving flume of thoughts.

noun a narrow piece of land that projects from a coastline into the sea

adjective relating to or characteristic of a headland

• The lighthouse stood tall on the rocky headland, guiding ships safely into the harbor.
• Let's take a walk along the headland and enjoy the view of the ocean.
• I heard there's a secret beach hidden behind the headland, wanna check it out?
• She felt like she was standing on a headland, with important decisions stretching out in front of her.

noun a structure that allows pedestrians or vehicles to cross over a road or railway

• The city council approved the construction of a new overcrossing to improve traffic flow.
• We can take a shortcut through the overcrossing to get to the other side of town faster.
• Let's meet up at the overcrossing and hang out for a bit.
• The overcrossing symbolizes progress and connectivity in the urban landscape.

noun a hard surface, usually made of concrete or asphalt, that is used for walking or driving on

• The workers were busy repairing the pavement on the main street.
• Watch out for that crack in the pavement, you might trip.
• Let's take a stroll on the pavement and grab some ice cream.
• Her mind was a pavement of conflicting thoughts, making it hard to focus.

verb to strengthen or support with added materials or structures

adjective strengthened or supported with added materials or structures

• The concrete structure was reinforced with steel bars to increase its strength.
• I reinforced the importance of punctuality to my team during the meeting.
• I totally reinforced my buddy's decision to ask out his crush.
• Her confidence was reinforced by the supportive comments from her friends.

noun Resultant can also be used as a noun to refer to the outcome or consequence of a specific action or event.

adjective Resultant is used as an adjective to describe something that is produced as a result of something else.

• The resultant of the two forces acting on the object can be calculated using vector addition.
• The final outcome is dependent on the resultant of all the factors involved.
• The party was a disaster, but the resultant was that we all had a good laugh about it later.
• Her decision to quit her job had a resultant effect on her mental health.

noun a foundation or base for a road or railroad track

• The engineers inspected the stability of the roadbed before construction began.
• Make sure to pack extra gravel for the roadbed just in case.
• I heard they're laying down the roadbed next week.
• The roadbed of trust between them had been eroded over time.

noun a state of being underwater or beneath the surface

• The submergence of the submarine was carefully monitored by the crew.
• I can't believe how fast the submergence of the boat was!
• The submergence of the pool party was lit!
• The submergence of emotions overwhelmed her.

noun the act of examining and recording the features of a land area

verb the act of examining and recording the features of a land area

• The company hired a team of professionals for surveying the land before starting the construction project.
• My friend is surveying different colleges to decide where to apply.
• I'm surveying the scene before I make my move.
• She was surveying the room, taking in all the details before making her decision.

noun a broad, flat area of land that is higher than the surrounding land

• The tableland region is characterized by its flat terrain and high elevation.
• Let's go for a hike up on the tableland, the views are amazing!
• I heard there's a sick party happening on the tableland tonight.
• His mind was like a vast tableland, open and ready to absorb new ideas.

noun an underground passageway, typically through a hill or under a building, road, or river

verb No applicable parts of speech

adjective No applicable parts of speech

adverb No applicable parts of speech

pronoun No applicable parts of speech

preposition No applicable parts of speech

conjunction No applicable parts of speech

interjection No applicable parts of speech

article No applicable parts of speech

• The construction crew is currently working on building a new tunnel through the mountain.
• We drove through the tunnel on our way to the beach.
• Let's take a shortcut through the tunnel to get to the concert faster.
• She felt like she was in a tunnel of despair, unable to see a way out of her troubles.

noun a long bridge-like structure, typically a series of arches, carrying a road or railroad across a valley or other low ground

• The railway viaduct was an impressive feat of engineering, spanning over the valley below.
• We drove over the old viaduct on our road trip, it was pretty cool.
• Let's meet up under the viaduct later, it's a good spot to hang out.
• The viaduct of knowledge connects different fields of study, allowing for a broader understanding.

noun a type of shock absorber

• The dashpot is a mechanical device used to dampen vibrations in a system.
• I had to replace the dashpot in my car's suspension system.
• That old dashpot is really giving me trouble.
• Her calm demeanor acted like a dashpot, absorbing all the stress and tension in the room.

noun a structure built to span a physical obstacle such as a river or road, typically supported by arches or piers

adjective describing the color of the bridge as green

• The city council approved the construction of a new green bridge to improve traffic flow.
• Let's meet at the park by the green bridge later.
• That green bridge is lit, we should hang out there sometime.
• The green bridge symbolizes the connection between the two communities.

noun A basket or cage filled with earth or rocks and used especially in building a support or abutment

• The engineers decided to use gabion baskets to stabilize the riverbank.
• We're gonna need some gabion baskets to prevent erosion along the creek.
• Let's stack up those gabion cages to keep the soil from washing away.
• The gabion walls symbolize the strength and resilience of the community.

noun a structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g., at the ends of a bridge.

• The engineer designed a sturdy abutment to support the weight of the bridge.
• The workers are fixing the abutment on the side of the road.
• I accidentally bumped into the abutment while walking down the street.
• The strong friendship between them serves as an abutment during tough times.

noun a structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g., at the ends of a bridge

• The engineer inspected the abutments of the bridge to ensure they were structurally sound.
• I saw some workers fixing the abutments of the old building down the street.
• I don't know why they keep messing with the abutments, it's fine the way it is.
• The abutments of his argument were weak, leading to a flawed conclusion.

noun a system of drainage that involves the use of pipes or channels above ground level

• The building's architect incorporated a sophisticated aerial drainage system to prevent water accumulation on the roof.
• Make sure to clean out the gutters regularly to maintain proper aerial drainage around your house.
• I never realized how important aerial drainage was until my basement flooded last year.
• In order to succeed in business, you need to have a good aerial drainage system to handle any unexpected challenges that come your way.