Meanings
plural entablatures
- 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 Company1 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 239Synonyms: 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
- Italianintavolatura
- Englishentablature
From Italian intavolatura, from in + tavola (“table”).
More words from Italian
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
entablature. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/entablature
“entablature.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/entablature. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “entablature,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/entablature.
Source: entablature on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.