buttress

Everyday

1. A buttress is a thick wall or support of stone or brick built against a wall to hold it up and stop it falling outwards. tree →
2. A flying buttress is an arch that reaches from a separate pillar to support a tall wall, as in Gothic cathedrals. tree →
3. To buttress something is to support or strengthen it, often an argument or idea. tree →
4. A buttress root is a wide, flat root that holds up a tall rainforest tree. tree →

In the lessons

In history and design lessons buttresses let medieval builders make cathedrals with tall, thin walls and big stained-glass windows (Notre-Dame, Westminster Abbey). In science lessons rainforest trees have buttress roots. In English, «buttress your argument with evidence» means support it. Phrases: flying buttress, buttress roots, buttress an argument.

Examples

• The old church wall is held up by stone buttresses. tree →
• Flying buttresses support the walls of Notre-Dame in Paris. tree →
• Rainforest trees have huge buttress roots. tree →
• Buttresses let builders make tall walls with big windows. tree →
• She buttressed her argument with lots of facts. tree →
• The castle wall had a buttress at each corner. tree →
• We crawled between the buttress roots of a giant fig tree. tree →

Note

Plural buttresses. The verb is formal; in everyday talk say «support». Do not confuse with «butter».

In Jewish tradition

In Jeremiah the word means a support of a wall or tower, here a fortress of Babylon.

Interpretation. The prophet describes Babylon's walls and supports falling. Tradition reads this as God's vengeance on a proud empire.

Examples

• Shout against her round about, she hath submitted herself; her buttresses are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of the LORD, take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her. (Prophets JER.50.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural buttresses. The verb is formal; in everyday talk say «support». Do not confuse with «butter».