abutment
uh-BUT-ment
/əˈbʌtmənt/
A structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, typically at the ends of a bridge.
Acts as the transition point between the bridge structure and the natural ground, absorbing both vertical and horizontal forces.
The story behind the word. Coming from the Old French 'abouter', which literally meant 'to put ends together'. It entered English to describe properties that shared a boundary, and eventually became a specialized engineering term for the heavy structures where a bridge 'meets' the land.
Word relationships
- support: Support is a generic term for any load-bearing element, while abutment is a specific engineering term for end supports resisting lateral thrust.
- buttress: A buttress supports a vertical wall from the side, whereas an abutment supports the end of a horizontal span or arch.
Commonly confused with
- pier: A pier is an intermediate vertical support in the middle of a bridge span, while an abutment is the terminal support at the very end.
Word family
- abut (verb): To touch or join at the edge or boundary.
- abutting (adjective): Neighboring or bordering.
Collocations
- bridge abutment
- concrete abutment
- stone abutment
- abutment wall
Example sentences
- "The massive concrete abutment anchored the suspension bridge firmly to the rocky riverbank." Bridge construction
- "Inspectors found minor cracking in the stone abutment, indicating soil erosion underneath." Structural maintenance
Memory hook
Think of the bridge 'butting' its head against the riverbank. The 'abutment' is where the bridge 'butts' into the land. Where the bridge butts the land.
When not to use
Do not use to describe the intermediate vertical pillars (piers) of a bridge, only the end supports.
Fun facts
- The ancient Romans built stone abutments so durable that many still support modern road bridges across Europe today.
Related words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.