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Glite Dictionary
🏛️ Relating to architecture 🦗 Relating to eardrum
tympanal

tympanal

9.9
A decorated area above a doorway showing pictures or carvings
  • adjective
  • /ˈtɪmpənəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tímpano
  • During the tour, the guide pointed out the tympanal artwork above the church doors.

Examples

  • Architects admired the intricate tympanal carvings that adorned the historic building.

  • The tympanal decoration above the entrance was stunning.

  • The tympanal relief depicted scenes from ancient mythology above the museum's entrance.

  • Can you see the tympanal relief on that building?

  • The tympanal relief depicted scenes from ancient mythology above the museum's entrance.

  • Architects admired the intricate tympanal carvings that adorned the historic building.

  • During the tour, the guide pointed out the tympanal artwork above the church doors.

Surface Forms

tympanal positive

Morphology

tympanal = tympanum (transparent) = tympan + al

This is a regular adjective formed from the noun 'tympanum' with the suffix '-al', so the meaning 'relating to tympanum' is directly predictable.

Etymology

Tympanal comes from the Greek tympanon, meaning 'drum'. In architecture a tympanal area is the curved, decorated panel above a doorway, like a 'drum' or round space for pictures, so the origin helps explain its drum-like shape and role.