scaffold

noun

scaf·fold | \ ˈska-fəld

also -ˌfōld \

Definition of scaffold

1a : a temporary or movable platform for workers (such as bricklayers, painters, or miners) to stand or sit on when working at a height above the floor or ground

b : a platform on which a criminal is executed (as by hanging or beheading)

c : a platform at a height above ground or floor level

2 : a supporting framework

Examples of scaffold in a Sentence

The condemned man was led to the scaffold.

Recent Examples on the Web Scaling up for constructing roads would bring additional engineering challenges; for instance, getting the right ratio of supporting scaffold to hardening material. — Matt Simon, Wired, "The Mantis Shrimp Inspires a New Material—Made by Bacteria," 22 Feb. 2021 By the time the prince comes to witness the test, however, the boy is cowering under the scaffold, his confidence gone. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, "The Drenching Richness of Andrei Tarkovsky," 8 Feb. 2021 The framework of all your decisions and efforts as parents is the three pillars of your scaffold: structure, support, and encouragement. — Susanna Schrobsdorff, Time, "The Strange Allure of a Flight to Nowhere (and Other Places We're Desperate to Go)," 7 Feb. 2021 Prune trees when young to create a strong scaffold and minimize upward growth. — oregonlive, "Early rose pruning could cause dieback, result in re-prune next spring: Ask an expert," 16 Jan. 2021 Outside, a wooden scaffold had been erected on the National Mall, a rope noose dangling at the ready. — Michael Biesecker, BostonGlobe.com, "Who were they? Records reveal Trump supporters who stormed Capitol," 11 Jan. 2021 Outside, a wooden scaffold had been erected on the National Mall, a rope noose dangling at the ready. — Anchorage Daily News, "Records show fervent Trump fans fueled US Capitol takeover," 11 Jan. 2021 The worker brought through the 10th floor window was able to be pulled through easily, but rescue crews had to climb up the scaffold and cut through the 11th-floor window to bring the other worker through. — Alex Mann, baltimoresun.com, "At least 10 injured in explosion at BGE offices in downtown Baltimore; workers rescued from dangling scaffolding," 23 Dec. 2020 Late one night, Ellison was standing on a scaffold installing some crown molding when the owner walked in wearing a bathrobe and smoking a cigar. — Burkhard Bilger, The New Yorker, "The Art of Building the Impossible," 23 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scaffold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.