girder

noun

gird·​er ˈgər-dər How to pronounce girder (audio)
: a horizontal main structural member (as in a building or bridge) that supports vertical loads and that consists of a single piece or of more than one piece bound together

Examples of girder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Funding had been secured via a series of grants and City were so keen to get on with things that fans arriving for the promotion party on May 11 could see the steel girders had already been delivered, ready for work to start. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025 Ironworkers bolted the last girder into place, making Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) the world’s tallest building. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2025 Recent close-up inspections found even more damage on the deck, bearings and girders than was revealed initially. Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 25 Nov. 2024 His legs and feet disappear behind the green girder. Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for girder

Word History

Etymology

gird entry 1 (in sense "to surround as with a belt, connect firmly") + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of girder was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Girder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/girder. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

girder

noun
gird·​er ˈgərd-ər How to pronounce girder (audio)
: a horizontal main supporting beam

More from Merriam-Webster on girder

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