eaves
Britishplural noun
Etymology
Origin of eaves
Old English efes; related to Gothic ubizwa porch, Greek hupsos height
Explanation
The part of a roof that sticks out past the side of a building is called the eaves. If you hear chirping outside your window, it may be birds nesting in the eaves of your house. Eaves are an architectural feature that look good aesthetically, but they also serve the important purpose of directing rainwater away from the house. The word stems from the Old English efes, meaning "edge of a roof" and also "edge of a forest." You'll almost always see this word in its plural form. In fact, some dictionaries list eaves as both the singular and plural.
Vocabulary lists containing eaves
Built To Last: Architectural Parlance
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Charlotte's Web
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Beowulf
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Icicles hung from the eaves and snowplows navigated Frankfort’s narrow, winding streets after an unusually cold winter blast.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026
As depicted in a finely detailed illustration by Mr. Thompson, long eaves hang over the house’s facade.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
Check out the three-foot icicles dripping from the eaves and keep an eye out for the big boulder by the fire station on the right.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026
Sprinklers under the eaves are designed to go off automatically when a fire approaches, dampening the exterior of the house and surrounding area.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025
Rain fell on the roof of the barn and dripped steadily from the eaves.
From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
