buttress

American  

[buh-tris] / ˈbʌ trɪs /

noun

1. any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.

2. any prop or support.

3. a thing shaped like a buttress, as a tree trunk with a widening base.

4. a bony or horny protuberance, especially on a horse's hoof.

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verb (used with object)

1. to support by a buttress; prop up.

2. to give encouragement or support to (a person, plan, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   reinforce, brace, inspirit, support, hearten, encourage

buttress British  

/ ˈbʌtrɪs /

noun

1. Also called: pier.  a construction, usually of brick or stone, built to support a wall See also flying buttress

2. any support or prop

3. something shaped like a buttress, such as a projection from a mountainside

4. either of the two pointed rear parts of a horse's hoof

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verb

1. to support (a wall) with a buttress

2. to support or sustain

Other Word Forms

• buttressless adjective
• buttresslike adjective
• nonbuttressed adjective
• unbuttressed adjective

Etymology

Origin of buttress

1350–1400; Middle English butres ≪ Old French ( arc ) boterez thrusting (arch) nominative singular of boteret (accusative), equivalent to boter- abutment (perhaps < Germanic; butt ³ ) + -et -et

Example Sentences

Its technologies not only pervade the modern world; they buttress the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

If Blackstone and other lenders recover all or most of their financing, it would buttress their case that investors have overreacted to software cataclysm concerns.

From Barron's

Instead, I propped my elbow on the reading table and buttressed my fingertips against my forehead to obscure my face.

From Literature

This VIX strategy, buttressed with gas price data, is intended to capture more fear data.

From Barron's

That move showed discipline and helped buttress the case by Netflix management that Warner was nice to have, but not a need to have.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• reinforce
• strengthen
• uphold