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Glite Dictionary
ribbed vault

ribbed vault

9.7
A ceiling of curved stone sections with arched ribs that cross and hold it, often in Gothic churches
  • noun
  • /rɪbd vɔlt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bóveda de nervios
  • The cathedral featured a stunning ribbed vault that drew the admiration of many visitors.

Examples

  • This is the so-called groin or ribbed vault, spelled exactly as you think it would be, GROIN, the groin vault or the rib vault.

  • Above it hovered an ornately ribbed vault.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Architects often praised the intricate design of the ribbed vault in Gothic structures.

  • The museum displayed a model of a ribbed vault, showcasing its impressive support system.

Synonyms

vault
vsribbed vault
4 5.8

An arched ceiling made of stone, brick, or concrete

is a specific form that uses intersecting arched bands to support the ceiling
vaulting
vsribbed vault
  • Specialized
1 8.1

An arched roof or ceiling often seen in churches

is a particular type that has intersecting arched bands typical of Gothic architecture

How Complex

fan vaulting
  • Specialized
9.1
ribbed vault
  • Specialized
9.7
groined vault
  • Specialized
9.9
barrel vault
  • Specialized
7.9

Surface Forms

ribbed vault singular
ribbed vaults plural

Morphology

ribbed + vault

The noun phrase is compositionally transparent: 'ribbed' (having raised ribs or ridges) modifies 'vault' (an arched ceiling), so a learner who knows both words can infer an arched ceiling featuring ribs. Although architectural, the adjective+noun combination follows a straightforward compositional pattern found across languages, making the meaning predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The noun ribbed vault comes from the way curved stone arches, like ribs, cross each other to make a clear pattern on the vault, the ceiling. Those rib-like arches 'support' the roof above, so the name came to mean this kind of arched ceiling.