architrave

A1R1C3H4I1T1R1A1V4E1
/ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/

noun

The lowest part of an entablature; rests on the capitals of the columns.

OriginItalian architrave →
RareScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounarchitrave (plural architraves)

plural architraves

  1. architectureThe lowest part of an entablature; rests on the capitals of the columns.

    Flutings also adorn the short architraves each side of the fanlight, and the abacus of the pilaster columns which is carried across a supplementary lintel in front of the lintel proper, the latter being several inches to the rear because of the deeply recessed arrangement of the door.

    1920, Frank Cousins, Phil M. Riley, The Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company
  2. architectureThe moldings (or other elements) framing a door, window or other rectangular opening.

    I know that one hinge of this door has parted with the woodwork. Dry rot has turned the architrave to compacted dust.

    2016, Ian McEwan, Nutshell, Vintage, page 17

Origin

  1. Italianarchitrave
  2. Englisharchitrave

First attested 1563, borrowed from Italian architrave, from archi- (“main”) + trave (“beam”).

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Basque arkitrabe
  • arkitrabethe lowest part of an entablature
Bulgarian архитра́в
  • архитра́в (arhitráv)the lowest part of an entablature
Catalan arquitrau
  • arquitrauthe lowest part of an entablature
Czech architráv
  • architrávthe lowest part of an entablature
Danish gerigt, arkitrav
  • gerigtthe lowest part of an entablature
  • arkitravthe lowest part of an entablature
Dutch architraaf
  • architraafthe lowest part of an entablature
Esperanto arkitravo
  • arkitravothe lowest part of an entablature
Finnish arkkitraavi
  • arkkitraavithe lowest part of an entablature
French architrave
  • architravethe lowest part of an entablature
German Architrav
  • Architravthe lowest part of an entablature
Greek επιστύλιο
  • επιστύλιο (epistýlio)the lowest part of an entablature
Italian architrave
  • architravethe lowest part of an entablature
Latin epistȳlium
  • epistȳliumthe lowest part of an entablature
Polish architraw
  • architrawthe lowest part of an entablature
Portuguese arquitrave
  • arquitravethe lowest part of an entablature
Russian архитра́в
  • архитра́в (arxitráv)the lowest part of an entablature
Spanish arquitrabe
  • arquitrabethe lowest part of an entablature
Swedish arkitrav
  • arkitravthe lowest part of an entablature
Ukrainian архітрав
  • архітрав (arxitrav)the lowest part of an entablature
Cite this entry
APA

architrave. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/architrave

MLA

“architrave.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/architrave. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “architrave,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/architrave.

Source: architrave on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.