abutment

English

First attested in 1644; engineering sense first attested in 1793. From Old French aboutement.^[1] Equivalent to abut +‎ -ment.

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
- Audio (Southern England): (file)
(US) IPA^(key): /əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
Rhymes: -ʌtmənt

abutment (countable and uncountable, plural abutments)

The point of junction between two things, in particular a support, that abuts. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]^[1]
(engineering, architecture) The solid portion of a structure that supports the lateral pressure of an arch or vault. [First attested in the mid 18^th century.]^[1]
(engineering) A construction that supports the ends of a bridge; a structure that anchors the cables on a suspension bridge. [First attested in the mid 18^th century.]^[1]
- 1959 May, “Talking of Trains: Bethnal Green alterations”, in Trains Illustrated, page 236:
  Each of the bridges consists of six separate girder spans on brick abutments.
(engineering) The part of a valley or canyon wall against which a dam is constructed.
Heavy rains have caused the dam's abutments to seep, raising concern over possible dam failure.
Something that abuts, or on which something abuts. [First attested in the mid 18^th century.]^[1]
The state of abutting.
(architecture) That element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor.
(dentistry) The tooth that supports a denture or bridge.
A fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained.
The fulcrum acted as an abutment.

point of junction that abuts

architecture: support for an arch or vault

engineering: support for the ends of a bridge

something that abuts, or on which something abuts

state of abutting

architecture: element that shares a common boundary or surface with its neighbor

dentistry: tooth that supports a denture or bridge

fixed point or surface where resistance is obtained

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “abutment”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 11.