Standard Lemma guide

abutment

noun · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
  • rhymes with -ʌtmənt

1

noun

Meaning 1

The point of junction between two things, in particular a support, that abuts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The solid portion of a structure that supports the lateral pressure of an arch or vault.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: architecture, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A construction that supports the ends of a bridge; a structure that anchors the cables on a suspension bridge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The part of a valley or canyon wall against which a dam is constructed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • Heavy rains have caused the dam's abutments to seep, raising concern over possible dam failure.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Something that abuts, or on which something abuts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

The state of abutting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

That element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: architecture

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

The tooth that supports a denture or bridge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: dentistry, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The fulcrum acted as an abutment.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

a masonry support that touches and directly receives thrust or pressure of an arch or bridge

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: support

11

noun

Meaning 11

point of contact between two objects or parts

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: point

History

Etymology

First attested in 1644; engineering sense first attested in 1793. From Old French aboutement. Equivalent to abut + -ment.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: допирна точка (dopirna točka) — point of junction that abuts
  • Finnish: tukipiste — point of junction that abuts
  • Bulgarian: подпора (podpora) — architecture: support for an arch or vault
  • Dutch: steunbeer — architecture: support for an arch or vault
  • Esperanto: abutmento — architecture: support for an arch or vault
  • Finnish: tukimuuri — architecture: support for an arch or vault
  • Finnish: vastikemuuri — architecture: support for an arch or vault
  • Ido: abutmento — architecture: support for an arch or vault
  • Polish: przyczółek — architecture: support for an arch or vault
  • Bulgarian: брегови устои (bregovi ustoi) — engineering: support for the ends of a bridge
  • Finnish: maatuki — engineering: support for the ends of a bridge
  • Indonesian: abutmen — engineering: support for the ends of a bridge
  • Indonesian: kepala jembatan — engineering: support for the ends of a bridge
  • Spanish: estribo — engineering: support for the ends of a bridge
  • Finnish: tuki — something that abuts, or on which something abuts
  • Finnish: tuki — state of abutting
  • Finnish: tukeminen — state of abutting
  • French: butée — state of abutting
  • German: Angrenzen — state of abutting
  • Interlingua: confinamento — state of abutting
  • Interlingua: conjuncto — state of abutting
  • Italian: rinfianco — state of abutting
  • Spanish: estribo — state of abutting
  • Ido: abutmento — architecture: element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor
  • Polish: przyczółek — architecture: element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor
  • Finnish: tukihammas — dentistry: tooth that supports a denture or bridge
  • Indonesian: abutmen — dentistry: tooth that supports a denture or bridge
  • Italian: ponte — dentistry: tooth that supports a denture or bridge
  • Finnish: tukipiste — fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained
Real reading context

abutment in complete knowledge articles