the underside of a part of a building (such as an arch, overhang, beam, or so on)
artifact noun (man-made objects)
soffits
via French from Italian soffitto, from Latin suffixus something fixed...
(Source: Collins Dictionary) [more]
in architecture, describes the underside of any construction element. Examples of soffits include: the underside of an arch or architrave, ; the underside of a flight of stairs, under the classical entablature, ; the underside of a projecting cornice,... (39 of 536 words, 3 images)
[architecture] The visible underside of an arch, balcony, beam, cornice, staircase, vault or any other architectural element. | [pipe technology] The top point of the inside open section of a pipe or box conduit. (33 of 54 words, 2 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciations, 1 image)
the underside of a part of a building or a structural component, such as an arch, beam, stair, etc | the upper inner surface of a drain or sewer (28 of 283 words, 2 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)
the underside of a part or member of a building (as of an overhang or staircase) ; especially, the intrados of an arch (23 of 54 words, pronunciation)
The underside of a structural component, such as a beam, arch, staircase, or cornice. (14 of 37 words, pronunciation)
the underside of an architectural structure such as an arch, a balcony, or overhanging eaves (15 of 34 words, pronunciation)
the horizontal underside of an eave, cornice, etc. | the intrados of an arch or vault (15 of 31 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
the underside of an architectural feature, as a beam, arch, ceiling, vault, or cornice. (14 of 20 words, pronunciation)
[countable] a particular area of something such as a building, street, or ... | [countable] an outside surface of an object or shape that is not its ... (26 of 1348 words, 32 definitions, 72 usage examples, pronunciation)
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/side
side with [transitive] to agree with one particular person and support them in an argument (15 of 59 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/side 92
not in or on the central part of something | less important or less central (14 of 55 words, 2 definitions, 4 usage examples, pronunciation)
a flat outer surface of an object, especially one that is not the top, the bottom, the front or the back (21 of 83 words, 6 usage examples, pronunciations)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/side 1
an edge or border of something (6 of 39 words, 3 usage examples, pronunciations)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/side 2
a place next to something | "side by side": next to each other (12 of 58 words, 2 definitions, 3 usage examples, pronunciation)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/side 3
a part of something, especially in relation to a real or imagined central line | the part of the body from under the arm to the top of the leg | ... (29 of 152 words, 5 definitions, 9 usage examples, pronunciations)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/side 4
one of two or more opposing teams or groups | "take sides": to support one person or group rather than another, in an argument or war | "take sb's ... (27 of 110 words, 3 definitions, 6 usage examples, pronunciations)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/side 5
an opinion held in an argument; a way of considering something (11 of 49 words, 2 usage examples, pronunciations)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/side 6
a part of someone's character (5 of 23 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/side 7
not in or at the centre or main part of something (11 of 75 words, 3 usage examples, pronunciation)
the underside of a structural component of a building, e.g. the underside of a roof overhang or the inner curve of an arch (23 of 49 words, pronunciation)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861709679/definition.html [offline]
First use: 17th century
Origin: via French from Italian soffitto, from Latin suffixus something fixed underneath, from suffīgere, from sub- under + fīgere to fasten
First use: 1610s
Origin: Italian soffita, feminine of soffitto "ceiling", originally "fixed beneath", from Latin sub- "under" + past participle of figere "to fix, fasten".
First use: 1592
Origin: French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from Vulgar Latin *suffictus, past participle of Latin suffigere to fasten underneath
Origin: French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from Vulgar Latin *suffīctus, past participle of suffīgere, to fasten beneath; see "suffix".
Origin: French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from sof- ("under") + past participle of figgere ("to fix").
First use: early 17th century
Origin: French soffite or Italian soffitto, based on Latin suffixus "fastened below"
Origin: French soffite from Italian soffitto from Vulgar Latin *suffictus, for Latin suffixus: see "suffix"
First use: Early 17th century
Origin: French soffite or Italian soffitto from Latin suffixus "fastened underneath"
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861709679/definition.html [offline]
Audio: North American pronunciation of "soffit"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=soffit01 word=soffit
Page last updated: 2013-01-01