List of structures

Ais forAbode

List of structures

An abode is a place you live, such as a house.

David Sawyer / CC BY-SA

Ais forArch

List of structures, Shapes

An arch is a curved, self-supporting shape usually used over doorways or to support old bridges. Arches shift the downwards force at the top of the arch to a sideways force at the bottom of the arch, so there must be a strong wall holding the base of the arch up. Arches work particularly well underground where the earth holds the sideways force. When two arches are put next to each other, the sideways forces are cancelled out, so a row of arches together e.g. under a long bridge only need thin walls or pillars holding the arches up.
The stone at the top center of an arch is usually a slightly different shape, or is more decorative. It is called the keystone.

William Murphy / CC BY-SA

Ais forAviary

List of structures

An aviary is a large cage for keeping birds in. Aviaries can be small enough to keep in your backyard, or as big as a large building.

stevep2008 / CC BY-SA

Ais forAwning

List of structures

An awning is a cover over a window or door. Awnings might be solid and permanently attached, or made from a material like canvas that can be rolled up.
The awnings in the picture are yellow.

My Aching Head / CC BY-SA

Bis forBalcony

List of structures

A balcony is a small platform that sticks out of the side of a building. There is usually a door that leads out from the inside of the house to the balcony. Balconies are very nice to have in an apartment that doesn't have a yard.

Kim Siever / CC BY-SA

Bis forBalustrade

List of structures

A balustrade is a kind of fence that usually surrounds stairs or a balcony.
A balustrade is made up of a horizontal rail and vertical balusters. Balusters are usually quite decorative.

Amanda Slater / CC BY-SA

Bis forBarn

Agriculture, List of structures

A barn is a building usually found on farms. It can be used to keep animals in, for storing hay or straw, or for storing farm machinery.

Michel Filion / CC BY-SA

Bis forBillboard

List of structures, Types of communication

A billboard is a very, very large outdoor advertisement. Billboards are usually put near busy roads, so that people driving past in cars can see them from a long way away.

Pirátská strana / CC BY-SA

Bis forBollard

List of structures

A bollard is a short, strong post firmly attached to the ground. They are used to mark the edges of an area, and to stop vehicles passing them.

Some bollards are removable.

David / CC BY-SA

Bis forBooth

List of structures

A booth is a small enclosure used for a variety of purposes, like calling someone on the phone, voting, or eating at a restaurant.

Don O'Brien / CC BY-SA

Bis forBridge

List of structures

A bridge is a structure that goes over the top of something impassable so people or vehicles can get across. Bridges are usually built over chasms, rivers or other narrow bodies of water, like the narrow part of a lake or an inlet of the sea.

Dion Hinchcliffe / CC BY-SA

Bis forBuilding

List of structures

A building is a large, man-made structure. Most buildings are very big, and are places for many people to live and work. A building where only a very small number of people live is called a house.

Michael Daddino / CC BY-SA

Bis forButtress

List of structures

A buttress is a structure built against a wall, at right angles to it, that thickens and supports the wall. They were commonly used when building large churches.
The flying buttress is a type of buttress set away from the wall it supports, supporting the wall by an arch between it and the wall.

Steve Cadman / CC BY-SA

Cis forCabin

List of structures

A cabin is a small house usually made of wood.

jimmy brown / CC BY-SA

Cis forCastle

List of structures

A castle is a large building usually made out of stone. Castles were designed to be very defensive, so the people living inside would be safe from attack. They were usually built as homes for noble families or royal families. Castle design changed over the centuries to keep up with improvements in equipment designed for breaking into castles.
After the invention of gunpowder and cannons, castles were no longer so effective against attacks. The building of new castles gradually stopped, and more recent castles are more decorative than defensive. The most recent castles are either replica castles or just very large mansions with some castle features added to them for decoration.
The centremost tower in a castle is called a keep, the most secure part of the castle. The ditch around the castle which may or may not be filled with water is called a moat. The top edges of the castle walls are covered by battlements, which were used for archers to hide behind.

Jim Linwood / CC BY-SA

Cis forCeiling

List of home decor, List of structures

The ceiling is the part of a room that is directly above the floor. Ceilings are usually painted white and sometimes have lights like chandeliers on them.

Rolf Dietrich Brecher / CC BY-SA

Cis forChalet

List of structures

A chalet is a house with overhanging eaves designed to clear snow off the roof. Chalets are often found in the Swiss alps.

Jeanne Menjoulet / CC BY-SA

Cis forChateau

List of structures

A chateau is a French word describing a very large, beautiful castle or palace.

Dennis Jarvis / CC BY-SA

Cis forChimney

List of structures

A chimney is a structure that draws smoke and hot air away from a fire inside a building. The building may be a big industrial one with huge tall chimneys, or just a house with a fireplace inside.

Mark Hillary / CC BY-SA

Cis forChurch

List of structures, Religious terms

A church is a special building where people go to pray to their God.

JJ Lincolne / CC BY-SA