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English vocabulary > architecture > Flashcards

architecture Flashcards

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1
Q

Bas-côté

A

Aisle

Space alongside the body of a church, separated from it by columns, piers or posts.

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2
Q

Autel

A

Altar

The table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services.

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3
Q

Retable

A

Altarpiece

A painting or carving above or behind an altar.

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4
Q

Abside

A

Apse

Semicircular or polygonal extension, especially of a chancel or chapel. In classical architecture sometimes called an exedra.

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5
Q

Archivolte / voussure

A

Archivolt

Under-surface of an arch, or a moulded band following its contour.

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6
Q

Voute en berceau

A

Barrel vault

The simplest kind of vault, in the form of a continuous semicircular or pointed arch

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7
Q

Cénotaphe

A

Cenotaph

A funerary monument to someone buried elsewhere

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8
Q

Salle du chapitre

A

Chapter house

The place of assembly for the members of a monastery or cathedral

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9
Q

Chevet

A

Chevet

A complex of elaborate architectural structures at the eastern end of a church, especially a French Gothic church, usually consisting of a semicircular or polygonal apse with radiating chapels and many buttresses

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10
Q

Chœur

A

Choir

The part of a church where the choir performs.

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11
Q

Claire-voie

A

Clerestory

The upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, incorporating a series of windows which admit light to the central parts of the building

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12
Q

Cloître

A

Cloister

A covered, and typically colonnaded, passage round an open court in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral.

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13
Q

Croisée du transept

A

Crossing

The intersection of a church nave and trancept

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14
Q

Arc boutant

A

Flying buttress

An exterior support for a wall that sticks out from the wall and is typically arch-shaped, often used in Gothic cathedrals.

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15
Q

Gargouille

A

Gargoyle

Grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building to carry water clear of a wall.

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16
Q

Gothique

A

Gothic

Style of architecture prevalent in western europe in the 12th-16th centuries, characterized by pointed arches, elaborate tracery and large windows.

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17
Q

Voutes d’arrêtes

A

Groin vault

A vault formed of two barrel vaults intersecting at right angles.

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18
Q

Clef de voute

A

Keystone

Central stone in an arch or vault.

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19
Q

Narthex

A

Narthex

Enclosed vestibule or covered porch at the main entrance to a church.

20
Q

Nef

A

Nave

The central part of a church apart from the side aisles, chancel, and transepts.

21
Q

Chaire

A

Pulpit

Raised and enclosed platform for the preaching of sermons.

22
Q

Voûte d’ogive

A

Rib vault

A vault with a masonry framework of intersecting diagonal arches (ribs) supporting cells, used in Gothic and late Norman architecture.

23
Q

Roman

A

Romanesque

The dominant style of western Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries. It is associated with the building of large stone churches, and is characterized by round-headed arches and by the use of stylized ornament. In England it is commonly known as norman.

24
Q

Rosace

A

Rose window

Circular window with tracery radiating from the centre.

25
Q

Vitraux

A

Stained glass

Pieces of coloured glass held in place by thin strips of metal (usually lead) to form pictures in a window

26
Q

Clocher

A

Steepl

A church tower

27
Q

Remplage

A

Tracery

Ornamental stonework in an opening, most common in gothic architecture

28
Q

Transept

A

Transept

In a church, either of the two parts forming the arms of the cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.

29
Q

Triforium

A

Triforium

A gallery or arcade above the arches of the nave, choir, and transepts of a church.

30
Q

Tympan

A

Tympanum

A recess, especially the recessed space between the top of a door or window and the arch above it, or between the cornices forming a classical triangular gable pediment

31
Q

Voûte

A

Volt

An arched stone roof

32
Q

Sacristie

A

Vestry

A room in or attached to a church, used as an office and for changing into ceremonial vestments.

33
Q

Barbacane

A

barbacan

Outer section of a fortification defending

34
Q

Poutre

A

Beam

A horizontal structural member, a long piece of timber, metal, or concrete that spans a gaps and supports a floor, roof, or other structure above.

35
Q

Beffroi

A

Belfry

Chamber or stage in a tower where bells are hung

36
Q

Bow window

A

Bow window

A curved projection window

37
Q

Contrefort

A

Buttress

A projecting support built against a wall

38
Q

Courtine

A

Curtain wall

A fortified wall around a medieval castle, typically one liking towers together

39
Q

Porte à faux

A

Cantilever

Horizontonal projection supportes at one end only

40
Q

l

Pont levis

A

Draw bridge

A bridge which is hinged at one end so that it can be raised

41
Q

Cachot

A

Dungeon

A prison cell, often underground, especially beneath a castle

42
Q

Donjon

A

Keep

The strongest or central tower of a castle

43
Q

Meneau

A

Mullion

A vertical piece of stone, metal, or wood, that divides the panes of a window or the panels of a screen

44
Q

Pinacle

A

Pinnacle

Pointed ornament on top of a buttress or parapet

45
Q

Portail

A

Portal

A large elaborate gate or entrance (literary)

46
Q

Flêche

A

Spire

Tall pyramidal or conical feature crowning a tower

47
Q

Tuile

A

Tile

A thin flat or curved

English vocabulary (3 decks)

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