structural member

/ˌstrʌktʃərəl ˌmɛmbər/

Other forms: structural members

Definitions of structural member

1. noun

   support that is a constituent part of any structure or building
   types:

   beam

   long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction

   brace, bracing

   a structural member used to stiffen a framework

   plate

   structural member consisting of a horizontal beam that provides bearing and anchorage

   riser

   structural member consisting of the vertical part of a stair or step

   sill

   structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure

   tread

   structural member consisting of the horizontal part of a stair or step

   upright, vertical

   a vertical structural member as a post or stake

   box beam, box girder

   a beam built up from boards; has a hollow rectangular cross section

   cantilever

   projecting horizontal beam fixed at one end only

   column, pillar

   (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure

   crosspiece

   a transverse brace

   doorsill, doorstep, threshold

   the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway

   girder

   a beam made usually of steel; a main support in a structure

   gusset, gusset plate

   a metal plate used to strengthen a joist

   guy, guy cable, guy rope, guy wire

   a cable, wire, or rope that is used to brace something (especially a tent)

   header

   a framing member crossing and supporting the ends of joists, studs, or rafters so as to transfer their weight to parallel joists, studs, or rafters

   header, lintel

   horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window

   jamb

   upright consisting of a vertical side member of a door or window frame

   joist

   beam used to support a floor or ceiling

   keel

   one of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability

   keelson

   a longitudinal beam connected to the keel of ship to strengthen it

   post

   an upright consisting of a piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position

   balk, baulk, rafter

   one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof

   rider plate

   a horizontal beam (or plate) connected to the top of a ship's vertical keel or to the keelson

   ridge, ridgepole, rooftree

   a beam laid along the edge where two sloping sides of a roof meet at the top; provides an attachment for the upper ends of rafters

   scantling, stud

   an upright in house framing

   scape, shaft

   (architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column

   shore, shoring

   a beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support

   stay

   (nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar

   stile

   an upright that is a member in a door or window frame

   stringer

   brace consisting of a longitudinal member to strengthen a fuselage or hull

   strut

   brace consisting of a bar or rod used to resist longitudinal compression

   tie, tie beam

   a horizontal beam used to prevent two other structural members from spreading apart or separating

   crosstie, railroad tie, sleeper, tie

   one of the cross braces that support the rails on a railway track

   timber

   a beam made of wood

   crossbeam, crosspiece, trave, traverse

   a horizontal beam that extends across something

   wall plate

   plate (a timber along the top of a wall) to support the ends of joists, etc., and distribute the load

   windowsill

   the sill of a window; the horizontal member at the bottom of the window frame

   type of:

   support

   any device that bears the weight of another thing