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Webster 1913 Edition


Abutment

A-but′ment

(ȧ-bŭt′ment)
,
Noun.
1.
State of abutting.
2.
That on or against which a body abuts or presses
;
as
(a)
(Arch.)
The solid part of a pier or wall, etc., which receives the thrust or lateral pressure of an arch, vault, or strut.
Gwilt.
(b)
(Mech.)
A fixed point or surface from which resistance or reaction is obtained, as the cylinder head of a steam engine, the fulcrum of a lever, etc.
(c)
In breech-loading firearms, the block behind the barrel which receives the pressure due to recoil.

Webster 1828 Edition


Abutment

ABUT'MENT

,
Noun.
1.
The head or end; that which unites one end of a thing to another; chiefly used to denote the solid pier or mound of earth, stone or timber, which is erected on the bank of a river to support the end of a bridge and connect it with the land.
2.
That which abuts or borders on another.

Definition 2024


abutment

abutment

English

several abutments

Noun

abutment (plural abutments)

  1. The point of junction between two things, in particular a support, that abuts. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][1]
  2. (engineering, architecture) The solid portion of a structure that supports the lateral pressure of an arch or vault. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
  3. (engineering) A construction that supports the ends of a bridge; a structure that anchors the cables on a suspension bridge. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
  4. Something that abuts, or on which something abuts. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
  5. The state of abutting.
  6. (architecture) That element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor.
  7. (dentistry) The tooth that supports a denture or bridge.
  8. A fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained.
    The fulcrum acted as an abutment.

Translations

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 11