Architecture

Definition of quarry

The first meaning of the term quarry mentioned in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) refers to the place where stones or other similar materials are obtained. Quarries are open-air mining operations. Granite, limestone or marble can be obtained from a quarry, to name a few.

Definition of campus

The Latin word campus, which can be translated as “plain”, is used in our language to refer to the buildings and lands that belong to a university. A campus houses the infrastructure and the different spaces of an educational establishment of this type. For example: “During my university days I had a lot of fun at the […]

Definition of bell tower

A bell tower is a structure that houses one or more bells. It is usually a tower that is part of a building. For example: «The authorities announced a million-dollar investment to restore the cathedral bell tower», «The boy ran to the bell tower to announce the news», «The criminal tried to […]

Definition of roadway

The etymological root of the word calzada is found in the Latin word calciāta, which can be translated as “cobbled road”. This Latin word in turn derived from “calx”, which was the name given to the limestone used to shape these roads. The term calzada refers to the sector of the […]

Definition of alley

An alley is a very narrow path that runs between buildings or elevations. The concept can be used as a synonym for alley. For example: “I recommend you not walk down this alley at night: it is very dark”, “The Ecuadorian artist will perform tomorrow at the theatre in the alley”, “The museum is at the end of the alley”. […]

Definition of cabin

Before going into the meaning of the term cabin, it is essential to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can say that it is a word that derives from French, specifically from the word «cabine». This is a variant of «cabane», which is how a cabin was defined. […]

Definition of attic

Before going into the meaning of the term attic, it is necessary to know its etymological origin. In this case, we can say that it is the result of the sum of two different parts: -The noun attic, which was the term formerly given to a vent that existed in houses for the […]

Definition of vault

Vault is a term whose etymology is not clear. The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) suggests that the concept could derive from volvĭta, a Latin word that in turn comes from volvĕre (a verb that can be translated as “to return”). In the field of architecture, a vault is an arched structure that allows the covering of a roof […]

Definition of boulevard

Boulevard is a French term that is not part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE). The word that does appear is bulevar, derived from this concept of the French language. In any case, it is common that in our language the word boulevard is also used. A boulevard or boulevard, in short, is a […]

Definition of winery

The winery is the place where wines are aged and stored, as well as the establishment where they are made and the store where they are sold. For example: «I'm going to the winery to look for a Malbec to accompany the meat», «My uncle owns a winery in the south of Chile», «In the […]