buttress
pronunciation
How to pronounce buttress in British English:
UK [ˈbʌtrəs]
How to pronounce buttress in American English:
US [ˈbʌtrɪs]
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- Noun:
- a support usually of stone or brick; supports the wall of a building
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- Verb:
- reinforce with a buttress
- make stronger or defensible
Word Origin
- buttress (n.)
- early 14c., from Old French (arc) botrez "flying buttress," apparently from bouter "to thrust against," of Frankish origin (compare Old Norse bauta "to strike, beat"), from Proto-Germanic *butan, from PIE root *bhau- "to strike" (see butt (v.)).
- buttress (v.)
- late 14c., literal and figurative, from buttress (n.). Related: Buttressed; buttressing.
Example
- 1. Try to buttress the points you make in these chapters with some details .
- 2. To buttress this apparently formidable firewall , three dozen states have imposed constitutional or other legal bans .
- 3. The announcement saturday is also meant to buttress u.s. support of south korea at a time when it is facing renewed hostilities with north korea .
- 4. More government spending is needed to buttress industry .
- 5. Have some background information available to buttress your case , including links and citations .