Structural Engineering Terms

noun a curve formed by a flexible chain or string hanging freely from two points and forming a U shape

adjective relating to or resembling a catenary

• The catenary curve is the shape that a hanging chain or cable takes under its own weight when supported only at its ends.
• The catenary of the suspension bridge is really cool to look at.
• That catenary curve is like a perfect swoop, man.
• The catenary of life's challenges can be unpredictable but beautiful in its own way.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'deformed' describes something that is distorted or disfigured.

• The deformed structure of the building made it unsafe for occupancy.
• I saw a deformed tree in the park that looked really strange.
• That deformed car is definitely a fixer-upper.
• His deformed sense of reality led to many misunderstandings in his relationships.

verb to interrupt the quiet, rest, peace, or order of; unsettle

• I apologize if I disturb you, but could you please lower your voice?
• Hey, sorry to disturb you, but do you have a minute to chat?
• I don't mean to disturb, but can I borrow your charger?
• The sudden noise outside disturbed the peace of the neighborhood.

noun A thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation

• The fulcrum of the lever is the point where it pivots.
• Make sure the fulcrum is in the right position before lifting the heavy object.
• I can't move this thing without adjusting the fulcrum.
• In this debate, the fulcrum of the argument is the ethical implications of the decision.

noun a cable railway, especially one on a mountainside, in which a cable attached to a pair of tramcars provides the traction.

adjective relating to or denoting a funicular.

• The funicular is a type of cable railway used to transport passengers up steep inclines.
• Let's take the funicular up to the top of the mountain for a great view!
• I heard the funicular ride is a cool way to get to the top without hiking.
• The funicular represents the gradual ascent to success in our journey through life.

noun a place where things join or are joined

• At this juncture, we must carefully consider all possible options before making a decision.
• We're at a critical juncture right now, so we need to figure out what to do next.
• Things are really up in the air at this juncture, so let's just go with the flow.
• The meeting served as a juncture where ideas collided and new opportunities emerged.

noun an act of overturning or state of being overturned

verb to turn over or upside down; to reverse or annul

• The court decided to overturn the previous ruling.
• They're going to try to overturn the decision.
• I can't believe they overturned the call!
• Sometimes life can overturn all our plans in an instant.

noun a flat, typically round dish that is used for serving food

verb to cover or coat with a thin layer of metal

• Please pass me the plate so I can serve the food.
• Hey, can you hand me that plate over there?
• Yo, toss me that plate, I'm starving.
• His responsibilities were piling up on his plate.

noun a device or method used to restrict movement or action

verb to hold back, control, or limit

adjective showing careful self-control

• The suspect was restrained by the police officers during the arrest.
• I had to restrain myself from laughing during the serious meeting.
• He had to be restrained from getting into a fight at the bar.
• Her emotions were restrained, hidden beneath a calm exterior.

noun a structural framework, usually made of wood or metal, used to support a roof or bridge

verb to tie up or bind tightly with ropes or straps

• The truss is a framework of beams, bars, or rods used to support a roof or bridge.
• I saw the construction workers putting up the truss for the new building.
• Let's make sure to truss up the tent properly so it doesn't collapse.
• The truss of support from her friends helped her get through a difficult time.

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being, in this case, 'twisted' can be a past tense form of the verb 'twist', meaning to bend or distort something

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun, in this case, 'twisted' describes something that is bent or distorted

• The twisted plot of the novel kept readers on the edge of their seats.
• She told a twisted version of the story to her friends.
• He's always coming up with twisted ideas for pranks.
• The politician's twisted logic left many scratching their heads.

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 word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• The committee decided to shunt aside the proposal for further review.
• Let's just shunt that idea to the side for now and focus on something else.
• They totally shunted aside his suggestion without even considering it.
• She felt like she was being shunted aside in the group chat, as no one was responding to her messages.

noun the quality of being steady or constant

• The success of the project relied heavily on the steadiness of the team's leader.
• Her steadiness in times of crisis always impresses me.
• I gotta give props to his steadiness under pressure.
• The old lighthouse stood as a symbol of steadiness in the face of turbulent seas.