Crossword clues for abutment
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Abutment \A*but"ment\ ([.a]*b[u^]t"ment), n.
State of abutting.
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That on or against which a body abuts or presses; as
(Arch.) The solid part of a pier or wall, etc., which receives the thrust or lateral pressure of an arch, vault, or strut.
--Gwilt.(Mech.) A fixed point or surface from which resistance or reaction is obtained, as the cylinder head of a steam engine, the fulcrum of a lever, etc.
In breech-loading firearms, the block behind the barrel which receives the pressure due to recoil.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1640s, from abut + -ment. Originally any "junction;" the architectural usage is attested from 1793 (the notion is of the meeting-place of the arches of a bridge, etc.).
Wiktionary
n. 1 The point of junction between two things, in particular a support, that abuts. (First attested in the mid 17th century.) 2 (context engineering architecture English) The solid portion of a structure that supports the lateral pressure of an arch or vault. (First attested in the mid 18th century.) 3 (context engineering English) A construction that supports the ends of a bridge; a structure that anchors the cables on a suspension bridge. (First attested in the mid 18th century.) 4 Something that abuts, or on which something abuts. (First attested in the mid 18th century.) 5 The state of abutting. 6 (context architecture English) That element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor. 7 (context dentistry English) The tooth that supports a denture or bridge. 8 A fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained.
WordNet
n. point of contact between two objects or parts
a masonry support that touches and directly receives thrust or pressure of an arch or bridge
Wikipedia
In engineering, abutment refers to the substructure at the ends of a bridge span or dam whereon the structure's superstructure rests or contacts. Single-span bridges have abutments at each end which provide vertical and lateral support for the bridge, as well as acting as retaining walls to resist lateral movement of the earthen fill of the bridge approach. Multi-span bridges require piers to support ends of spans unsupported by abutments. Dam abutments are generally either side of a valley or gorge but may be artificial in order to support arch dams such as Kurobe Dam in Japan.
The term may also refer to the structure supporting one side of an arch, or masonry used to resist the lateral forces of a vault. The word derives from the verb "abut", meaning to "touch by means of a mutual border".
In dentistry, an abutment is a connecting element. This is used in the context of a fixed bridge (the "abutment teeth" referring to the teeth supporting the bridge), partial removable dentures (the "abutment teeth" referring to the teeth supporting the partial) and in implants (used to attach a crown, bridge, or removable denture to the dental implant fixture). The implant fixture is the screw-like component that is osseointegrated.
Usage examples of "abutment".
In finding the abutment reactions some principle such as the principle of least action must be used, and some assumptions of doubtful validity made.
On the abutment towers the chains are connected by horizontal links, carried on rockers, to anchor ties.
Each chain over a shore span consists of two segments, the longer attached to the tie at the top of the river tower, the shorter to the link at the top of the abutment tower, and the two jointed together at the lowest point.
Eads, the engineer, determined to establish the piers and abutments on rock at a depth for the east pier and east abutment of 136 ft.
Points A, B, and X are merely bifurcations rather than an abutment of two ridges at an angle.
The hardier swimmers, with Paul, struck out for the abutment on the pier in their usual way and poor Michael was left alone.
The abutments also must be strong enough to take safely the thrust of the weighted arch, as the slightest movement in these supports will cause deflection and failure.
On the other hand, a girder imposes only a vertical load on its piers and abutments, and not a horizontal thrust, as in the case of an arch or suspension chain.
Brunei constructed the towers and abutments for a suspension bridge of 702 ft.
Two main towers in the river and two towers on the shore abutments carry the suspension chains.
The reason given for this change of form was that it more conveniently allowed the lower road to pass between the springings and ensured the transmission of the wind stresses to the abutments without interrupting the cross-bracing.
The substructure of a bridge comprises the piers, abutments and foundations.
Some types of bridge can be built out from the abutments, the completed part forming an erecting stage on which lifting appliances are fixed.
The cost of abutments and bridge flooring is practically independent of the length of span adopted.
The wizard had drawn a seven-pointed star in lime-wash on a slab that had been part of the abutments of the Old Kingdom bridge.