pediment
noun
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Definition of pediment
1 : a triangular space that forms the gable of a low-pitched roof and that is usually filled with relief sculpture in classical architecture also : a similar form used as a decoration
2 : a broad gently sloping bedrock surface with low relief that is situated at the base of a steeper slope and is usually thinly covered with alluvial gravel and sand
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Other words from pediment
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adjective
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adjective
Examples of pediment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The drawing on the label is a doorway topped by an imposing neo-Georgian pediment. — Providence Cicero, The Seattle Times, "Backed by his boss, John Howie, sommelier/master distiller Erik Liedholm pours his heart and talent into award-winning liquors," 20 June 2018 The pediments above the inner doors here include some of the most accomplished carving from the Angkor period. — Antonia Neubauer, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Asia," 5 Oct. 2016 Despite the narrowness of the main facade, Wilson managed to pack all the basic, neoclassical elements of early 20th-century library design into his building, including a wide, ennobling staircase, pediment, and columns. — Inga Saffron, Philly.com, "The history in pictures of West Philadelphia's forgotten 'Flatiron building' | Inga Saffron," 20 May 2018 Rooftops, pennants, pediments, columns, and banners, in flaming shades of magenta, vermilion, chrome yellow, and aqua, as if King Arthur’s Court and Ringling Brothers joined forces and spent too much time in the sun. — Alexandra Lange, Curbed, "Lessons from LA’s 1984 Summer Olympics," 17 May 2018 After the arguments, Rosenstein, his wife and two daughters posed for photos on the front steps of the court beneath the phrase ‘‘Equal Justice Under Law’’ etched into the pediment. — Mark Sherman, BostonGlobe.com, "Rosenstein puts aside Russia inquiry to argue case at Supreme Court," 23 Apr. 2018 The major loss is Pope’s circular music room, with its skylight, narrow vestibules, and classical arch pediments. — Justin Davidson, Daily Intelligencer, "This Time, a Much More Promising Attempt to Fix the Frick," 13 Apr. 2018 The biggest structural challenge of the renovation was to remove the ugly dormer and rebuild it, using Welsh slate tiles to clad the roof and Portland stone to recreate its original decorative pediment. — Ruth Bloomfield, WSJ, "Luxury Homes in London With Ties to the Titanic," 11 Apr. 2018 Moreover, the form’s elements, from bases to columns to pediment sculpture, reflected the human body’s shape in a radical assertion of man’s presence and control, if not domination, over the landscape. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, "Remembering Vincent Scully," 10 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pediment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Keystone, Mansard, Balustrade & More
Keystone, Mansard, Balustrade & More
In the Details: Architecture Terms Worth Looking At
Dictionary Entries near pediment
Statistics for pediment
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for pediment
The first known use of pediment was in 1664
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More Definitions for pediment
pediment
noun
English Language Learners Definition of pediment
: a triangular area on the face of a building below the roof, above an entrance, etc.
See the full definition for pediment in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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