| Main Entry: | beam |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | length of material used as support |
Synonyms: |
axle, bail, balk, bolster, boom, brace, cantilever, column, crossbar, crosspiece, girder, jamb, joist, lath, lintel, pile, piling, pillar, plank, pole, post, prop, rafter, reach, scaffolding, scantling, shaft, sill, spar, stanchion, stay, stringer, strip, strut, stud, timber, transverse, trestle, two-by-four |
| Notes: | ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays) |
| Main Entry: | girder |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | main support beam |
Synonyms: |
I-beam, joist, rafter, tiebeam, truss |
| Main Entry: | rafter |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | beam |
Synonyms: |
axle, bail, balk, bolster, boom, brace, cantilever, column, crossbar, crosspiece, girder, jamb, joist, lath, lintel, pile, piling, pillar, plank, pole, post, prop, reach, scaffolding, scantling, shaft, sill, spar, stanchion, stay, stringer, strip, strut*, stud*, timber, transverse, trestle, two-by-four |