load-bearing beam
1
5.5
- noun
- Specialized
:
viga portante
- In the event of an earthquake, the load-bearing beam helped distribute the weight of the roof and prevent the walls from collapsing.
Examples
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During the renovation, the contractor replaced an old load-bearing beam to improve the building's structural integrity.
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The architect designed the new house with a strong load-bearing beam to ensure stability and support for the upper floors.
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And installed a load-bearing beam to support it accidentally.
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One of the building's load-bearing beams ran directly above him, and he hoped it might serve to protect him from the eventual falling debris.
Fiction book (1998)
Synonyms
104
2.7
A long strong piece of wood, metal, or concrete that supports part of a building
14
5.0
A long strong beam usually made of steel that supports buildings or bridges
2
4.4
A horizontal beam that supports parts of a building, like a roof
1
4.9
A part of a building, like a beam, that holds weight
1
5.7
A beam shaped like an L that supports edges and corners
How Strong
- Specialized
1
5.5
104
2.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'load-bearing' (able to bear weight) modifies 'beam' (a structural member), so the combined meaning is simply a beam that supports weight. This adjective+noun compounding is a basic, cross-linguistically common pattern and would be predictable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The noun load-bearing beam comes from the clear image of a beam that literally 'bears' the load above it. So the words load and bearing show that this beam's job is to carry weight and keep the building standing.