entasis
Americannoun
noun
-
a slightly convex curve given to the shaft of a column, pier, or similar structure, to correct the illusion of concavity produced by a straight shaft
-
Also called: entasia. physiol an involuntary or spasmodic muscular contraction
Etymology
Origin of entasis
1745–55; < Greek, equivalent to enta- (variant stem of enteínein to stretch tight, equivalent to en- en- 2 + teínein to stretch) + -sis -sis
Vocabulary lists containing entasis
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.
The ancient Greeks made their columns bulge out slightly about a third of the way up to correct for the optical illusion of concavity — a technique known as entasis.
From Washington Post
And they are an illustration of what was a marked characteristic of all classic architecture, which shows a slight curvature or entasis in its long lines.
From Roman Mosaics Or, Studies in Rome and Its Neighbourhood by Macmillan, Hugh
A column of the Parthenon, with its inclination, its tapering, its entasis, and its fluting, could not have been constructed without the most conscientious skill.
From A History of Greek Art by Tarbell, Frank Bigelow
Observe that the entasis is so slight that the lowest diameter of the shaft is always the greatest diameter.
From A History of Greek Art by Tarbell, Frank Bigelow
Sometimes they would give it, with exaggerated refinement, the entasis of the Greek column.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 05, No. 27, January, 1860 by Various
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.
