entablature

E1N1T1A1B3L1A1T1U1R1E1
/ɛnˈtæ.blə.t͡ʃɚ/

noun

All of that part of a classical temple above the capitals of the columns; includes the architrave, frieze, and cornice but not the roof.

RareScrabble 13

Meanings

nounentablature (plural entablatures)

plural entablatures

  1. architectureAll of that part of a classical temple above the capitals of the columns; includes the architrave, frieze, and cornice but not the roof.

    Such a distinctive and pleasing feature did this become that it was widely adapted to brick construction, the outward projection of pilasters and engaged columns, often both, supporting pediments and entablatures which had the effect of increasing the depth of brick walls.

    1920, Frank Cousins, Phil M. Riley, The Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company
    1 more example

    In the midst was one immense cedar, worthy to have been a summer palace on Lebanon; beneath, sheltered by its huge boughs from the sun, was a well, whose square marble walls were covered with the entablatures of the Roman days,—oval compartments of figures, surrounded by a carved wreath of the palm.

    1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XII, in Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 239

    Synonyms: entablement

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAll of that part of a classical temple above the capitals of the columns; includes the architrave, frieze, and cornice but not the roof.

Origin

  1. Italianintavolatura
  2. Englishentablature

From Italian intavolatura, from in + tavola (“table”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 柱頂 /柱顶
  • 柱頂 /柱顶part of a classical temple
Czech kladí
  • kladípart of a classical temple
Finnish entablementti
  • entablementtipart of a classical temple
French entablement
  • entablementpart of a classical temple
German Gebälk, Hauptgesims
  • Gebälkpart of a classical temple
  • Hauptgesimspart of a classical temple
Greek θριγκός
  • θριγκός (thrigkós)part of a classical temple
Hungarian párkány
  • párkánypart of a classical temple
Indonesian entablatur
  • entablaturpart of a classical temple
Japanese エンタブラチュア
  • エンタブラチュアpart of a classical temple
Polish entablatura
  • entablaturapart of a classical temple
Romanian antablament
  • antablamentpart of a classical temple
Swedish entablemang
  • entablemangpart of a classical temple

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

entablature. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/entablature

MLA

“entablature.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/entablature. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “entablature,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/entablature.

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