Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🐜 Without wings 🏛️ No side columns
apteral

apteral

9.9
A building with columns at the front or back but not along the sides
  • adjective
  • /ˈæptərəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : aptero
  • The ancient temple is apteral, with columns gracing only its front facade.

Examples

  • Unlike the peripteral style, the apteral design omits columns from the sides of the building.

  • Many apteral structures can be found in classical architecture.

  • The architect chose an apteral format to create a simpler, more focused entrance.

  • The ancient Greek temple was apteral in design.

  • The ancient temple is apteral, with columns gracing only its front facade.

  • The architect chose an apteral format to create a simpler, more focused entrance.

  • Unlike the peripteral style, the apteral design omits columns from the sides of the building.

Antonyms

peripteral
  • Specialized
9.9

A building with a single row of columns on all sides

How Columned

peripteral
  • Specialized
9.9
apteral
  • Specialized
9.9
prostyle
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

apteral positive

Morphology

apteral = apterous (opaque) = a + pter + al

The form is the same morphological composition (a- + pter + -al), but this sense is a specialised architectural term referring to column placement; the meaning cannot be deduced by an average B1 learner from the components.

Etymology

Apteral comes from the Greek parts a- meaning 'not' and pteron meaning 'wing', the same pter in helicopter. So, when used for a temple, apteral means it has 'no wings' along the sides—columns only at the ends, not down the long sides.