girder

noun

gird·​er ˈgər-dər 

: 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

Rigid airships, such as zeppelins, consist of a light framework of aluminum-alloy girders that is covered with fabric. —Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026

In an age where most electrics are looking towards the future with unheard-of modern tech on board, the C6 sports a WWII-era girder-style front fork and a monoshock with an internal floating piston at the rear. —New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026

Nearby, men drill the girders of a bridge; the iron beams make bold crisscrosses, moving the eye diagonally. —Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026

Denver Fire believes a girder (a concrete support bean) gave way below, trapping around 20 vehicles underground and more than a dozen on the surface lot. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing girder

• lattice girder

Rhymes for girder

• murder

Kids Definition

girder

noun

gird·​er ˈgərd-ər 

: a horizontal main supporting beam