loadbearing
Holding things up
Loadbearing describes a structural element that supports weight from above—a loadbearing wall holds up the floor or roof, while a non-loadbearing wall merely divides space.
The term matters in construction and renovation: you can't remove a loadbearing wall without replacing its structural function.
Figuratively, a loadbearing assumption is one that supports an entire argument.
Structural support member
- columnVertical structural element
- pillarUpright architectural support
- girderMain structural support beam
- trussLoad-bearing beam arrangement
joist · lintel · rafter · purlin · buttress · arch · keystone · framework
State of being answerable
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
anchor · cornerstone · mainstay · pillar · linchpin · foundation · crucial · essential
Solid building mixture
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- timberWood for construction
- brickFired clay building unit
- stoneSolid earth fragment
reinforced · laminated · masonry · iron · composite · lumber · engineered wood · rebar
Secure ground position
- piersWaterside mooring platforms
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- substructureSupporting base beneath
- underpinningFoundational support beneath
groundwork · slab · plinth · pile · caisson · basement · concrete · rebar
Pressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- capacityMaximum amount containable
structural · deflection · shear · moment · force · calculation · safety factor · transfer
beam
Structural support member
- columnVertical structural element
- pillarUpright architectural support
- girderMain structural support beam
truss · joist · lintel · rafter · purlin · buttress · arch · keystone · framework · cantilever
responsibility
State of being answerable
backbone · anchor · cornerstone · mainstay · pillar · linchpin · foundation · crucial · essential · critical
concrete
Solid building mixture
stone · reinforced · laminated · masonry · iron · composite · lumber · engineered wood · rebar · precast
footing
Secure ground position
- piersWaterside mooring platforms
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- substructureSupporting base beneath
underpinning · groundwork · slab · plinth · pile · caisson · basement · concrete · rebar · formwork
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- distributionAllocation across recipients
capacity · structural · deflection · shear · moment · force · calculation · safety factor · transfer · analysis
loadbearingdecorative
Serving to beautify
ornamental · cosmetic · partition · curtain wall · veneer
loadbearingnon-essential
Not strictly needed
removable · dispensable · superfluous · redundant · optional
loadbearingaesthetic
Concerning beauty or art
decorative · ornamental · superficial · optional · removable
bear, load, bearing, loaded, overload, download, bearer, loading, unloaded