October 18, 2009
WOD: Plumb Bob
Plumb Bob: usually a conical metal weight attached to the end of a plumb line. Also called plummet.
See Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumb-bob for more information
An excellent article and discription of plumb bobs can be found on Builder Bill’s website http://www.builderbill-diy-help.com/string-line.html#Plumb_Bob
Want to know how to use a plumb bob? See the eHow article http://www.ehow.com/how_2120279_use-plumb-bob.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
How Does a Plumb Bob Work? | eHow.com
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 17, 2009
WOD: Wythe
Wythe – brick wall thickness, one brick wide wall is 3-3/4″ thick for standard brick. Bearing walls will have two to three wythes. Only one wythe is used to face a concrete, wood or metal stud frame wall.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wythe and http://www.gobrick.com/BIA/technotes/t26.htm for more information.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 16, 2009
WOD: Masonry
Definition: Construction composed of shaped or molded units, usually small enough to be handled by one man and composed of stone, ceramic brick or tile, concrete, glass, adobe or the like; sometimes used to designate cast-in-place concrete.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 15, 2009
WOD: Bedrock
Definition: Solid rock which underlies any superficial formation; hence a firm foundation on which to erect a building, especially a heavy structure.
Bedrock is under all of the earth’s surface, either deeply below the surface, or in other cases it may be be exposed and can be seen on the surface.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 14, 2009
WOD: Project Labor Agreement (PLA)
Definition: A “project labor agreement” is when the government awards contracts for public construction projects exclusively to unionized firms.
For more information , click http://bit.ly/What-is-PLA.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 13, 2009
WOD: Quoins
Quoins: Large squared stones such as buttresses, set at the angles of a building; in stone masonry, the quoins are often made of stones much larger than those in the remainder of the wall; the external corner of a building.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quoin_(architecture) and http://www.gobrick.com/pdfs/Quoins.pdf?CFID=8930266&CFTOKEN=75754161 for more informaton.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 12, 2009
WOD: Portico
Portico: An open space before the door or other entrance to any building, fronted with columns. A covered porch or walkway with a roof supported by columns.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portico
Portico Illustrations from Buffalo, New York http://www.buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/p/port.html
How to Build a Portico | eHow.com
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 9, 2009
WOD: Construction Survey
Definition: Locates all facilities to be built on a site.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 8, 2009
WOD: Construction Management
Definition: Activities or functions involving planning, organizing and controlling construction projects.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
October 7, 2009
WOD: Primary Construction
Definition: Construction that causes the birth of a community.
– Fran Loyd, Woodrose Academy
Next Page »
What It Means
Construe means «to analyze the arrangement and connection of words in a sentence» or «to understand or explain the sense or intention of something in a particular way.»
// The teacher asked the students to construe the Greek philosopher’s statement.
// The website provides medical information but that information should not be construed as a diagnosis.
See the entry >
construe in Context
«So NFTs … feel strange and novel because normal people don’t usually construe monetary value in mere references to everyday things, like a cash-register receipt, or computer data.» — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2022
Love It or Hate It
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- When asked about her blind date, Carol spoke for hours with vitriol.
Test your knowledge — and maybe learn something along the way.
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Did You Know?
Construe comes from the Latin verb construere, meaning «to construct.» There is also misconstrue, meaning «to put a wrong construction (that is, a wrong interpretation) on» or «to misinterpret.»
Quiz
Fill in the blanks to complete a verb meaning «to analyze and interpret minutely»: d _ _ s _ _ t.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
shaft
(noun, verb)
/ʃæft/
LISTEN
An elevator shaft
A shaft is long stick used on weapons like arrows or lances. Figuratively, a shaft is something aimed at someone in order to attack them. A ray of light is also called a shaft. In construction, a shaft is a vertical passage or other enclosed space, like the one for an elevator or going down into a mine. In US slang, shaft means ‘hard or unfair treatment.’ The verb sense is related to this and, in both US and UK English, it means ‘to treat someone in a dishonest way.’
Example sentences
- There were feathers on the shaft of the arrow.
- Nancy ignored her boss’s shafts of sarcasm.
- A shaft of light came through the gap in the curtains.
- The miners descended the shaft into the coal mine.
- Peter is sick of getting the shaft at work.
- You paid $5000 for that old car? I think you’ve been shafted.
Words often used with shaft
elevator shaft (US), lift shaft (UK): the vertical opening that the elevator goes up and down inside. Example: “If you get stuck in an elevator, don’t try to open the doors as you could fall down the elevator shaft.”
In pop culture
There is a famous movie called Shaft, directed by Gordon Parks, which came out in 1971. It starred Richard Roundtree as John Shaft, a private detective. The film is based on a novel in which John Shaft is white, but Parks decided to cast Roundtree, a black actor, in the role. The movie is considered a prime example of the blaxploitation genre (a movie that depicts black stereotypes). Although the representation of blackness in the movie is not seen as authentic, it was hugely instrumental in making it easier for actors and actresses of color to get roles in Hollywood. The movie was remade in 2000, starring Samuel L. Jackson. You can see a clip from the original here:
Additional information
Shaft is also vulgar slang for ‘penis,’ and it is possible that the verb meaning may have come from this sense.
Did you know?
The movie Shaft also helped advance the careers of people of color behind the scenes. In 1972, Isaac Hayes became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song, for “The Theme From Shaft.” He was only the third African American ever to win an Oscar (the two previous ones had been for supporting actor and actress roles).
Origin
Shaft dates back to before the year 1000. The Old and Middle English noun sceaf (pronounced as we would pronounce shaft today), originally meant ‘long, slender rod, staff or pole,’ as well as ‘spear-shaft,’ and, by extension, ‘spear.’ It comes from the Proto-Germanic word skaftaz, which is also the origin for the German Schaft, the Dutch schacht and the Old Norse skapt. It can be traced further back, to the Proto-Indo-European root (s)kep-, which meant ‘to cut or scrape.’ This is likely the origin of the Latin word for shaft, scāpus, and the Greek word skêptron (scepter), as well as other English words, such as scrape and shave. The meaning ‘ray of light’ first appeared around the year 1300, and the sense ‘arrow’ is from the early 14th century. The other important nominal meaning, ‘a long narrow passageway, usually into the ground’ is from the early 15th century, and appears to be an extension of the original meaning, though some linguists think it may have been a separate Old English word that came from the same Proto-Germanic origin. Shaft has been used as vulgar slang for ‘penis’ since the early 18th century, and it is likely that the other slang meaning, ‘hard or unfair treatment,’ and its related verb, come from this sense.
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- More About Construct
- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ verb kuhn-struhkt; noun kon-struhkt ]
/ verb kənˈstrʌkt; noun ˈkɒn strʌkt /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
verb (used with object)
to build or form by putting together parts; frame; devise.
Geometry. to draw (a figure) fulfilling certain given conditions.
noun
something constructed: Each musical note sign is a construct of three distinct parts: the head, the stem, and the hook.
a mental image, idea, or theory, especially a complex one formed from a number of simpler elements: Character is a construct of personal values, personal rules and morals, and a number of other facets, including self-control and willpower.
QUIZ
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Origin of construct
First recorded in 1400–50 for earlier past participle sense; 1655–65 for current senses; late Middle English, from Latin constrūctus (past participle of construere “to construe”), equivalent to con- con- + strūc- (variant stem of struere “to build”) + -tus past participle suffix
synonym study for construct
OTHER WORDS FROM construct
con·struct·i·ble, adjectiveo·ver·con·struct, verb (used with object)pre·con·struct, verb (used with object)qua·si-con·struct·ed, adjective
well-con·struct·ed, adjective
Words nearby construct
constrictor, constringe, constringence, constringent, construable, construct, constructer, construction, constructional homonymity, constructionist, construction loan
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
MORE ABOUT CONSTRUCT
What does construct mean?
To construct means to build or create by putting parts together, as in Val constructed a whole town out of toy building blocks.
A construct is something that is created, often with a complex form.
The verb form of construct, pronounced kuhn-struhkt, is most often used to refer to buildings and monuments being built, but it can be used in any situation where something is built or parts are combined. You can construct a meal, for example, out of ingredients in your refrigerator or construct an outfit out of articles of clothing in your closet.
The noun form of construct, pronounced kon-struhkt, is anything that is built, either literally or figuratively. It is most often used figuratively to describe something that is made up of practices or ideas from a specific philosophy or school of thought. Constructs are often complex theories that are informed by many smaller ideas of the way things work.
Example: The gas company tried to construct a new pipeline, but the pipes kept leaking.
Where does construct come from?
The first records of the term construct come from the late 1400s. It ultimately comes from the Latin construere, meaning “to heap together or build.”
The phrase social construct refers to a theory or practice made up by the people in that society. For example, currency is a construct because the people in a society agree that what is used for currency has value and can be exchanged for goods or services. As well, many cultural and societal expectations are social constructs. For example, in the United States the construct of shaking of hands has become a sign of respect for the person you’re shaking hands with.
Did you know … ?
How is construct used in real life?
Construct is most commonly used to mean “to build,” either literally or figuratively.
Imagine building detailed financial models and constructing complex algorithms only for your hedge fund to lose money in the biggest bull market this century pic.twitter.com/qs7ahBmF3I
— Dr. Parik Patel, BA, CFA, ACCA Esq. (drpatel.eth) (@ParikPatelCFA) December 31, 2021
I’m never late to ANYTHING because:
1) time is a social construct
2) I’m there in spirit— tom (@tom_harlock) June 4, 2018
Attention Twitter, I chose to eat an apple instead of a bag of potato chips, please construct a monument in my honor.
— anildash (@anildash) April 10, 2015
Try using construct!
Which of the following is NOT a synonym for construct?
A. destroy
B. build
C. create
D. design
Words related to construct
build up, compose, create, design, erect, establish, fashion, forge, form, formulate, found, manufacture, organize, produce, put up, set up, shape, compound, constitute, elevate
How to use construct in a sentence
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The most powerful thing about applying creative constructs to the conversations that you make is that they can help balance power, protect from inequities, and do it in a way that’s built into the very structures that govern the conversations.
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Gathering for coffee is no longer part of our social construct, and coffee-making, much like cooking, has largely become an at-home affair.
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Consumers constantly apply meaning to their choices and use this meaning in their social constructs.
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After all, immersing yourself in nature is a way to check social constructs at the trailhead.
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Without surgery implantation, customized living tissue constructs were successfully generated in the body.
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Encompass Develop, Design Construct, LLC A Kentucky-based architect, design and construction service.
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We can construct excuses based on the evil that occurred September 11th.
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He had aspired to construct an epic figure after visiting the pyramids and sphinxes of Egypt in 1855.
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“Let others construct an unchallenging feminism that speaks only to the smallest common denominator,” she writes.
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But if Hamas were to continue to construct tunnels, Hanegbi said, Israel is prepared to send in ground forces to destroy them.
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They placed cotton and fine wool all about the room, and even endeavoured to construct small nests of wool and horsehair.
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But the artillerymen believed that it was impossible to construct a road to haul guns up to this height.
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This exhibit is sufficient to indicate that there need be no question of our financial ability to construct the road.
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Still, on small islands, such as the Coral and Marshall Islands, the natives construct their huts from pandan wood.
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Any one who intends to construct hoisting tackle ought to provide himself with beams and small cables.
British Dictionary definitions for construct
verb (kənˈstrʌkt) (tr)
to put together substances or parts, esp systematically, in order to make or build (a building, bridge, etc); assemble
to compose or frame mentally (an argument, sentence, etc)
geometry to draw (a line, angle, or figure) so that certain requirements are satisfied
noun (ˈkɒnstrʌkt)
something formulated or built systematically
a complex idea resulting from a synthesis of simpler ideas
psychol a model devised on the basis of observation, designed to relate what is observed to some theoretical framework
Derived forms of construct
constructible, adjectiveconstructor or constructer, noun
Word Origin for construct
C17: from Latin constructus piled up, from construere to heap together, build, from struere to arrange, erect
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Activity
Let’s face it, studying vocabulary is not something most children are exactly thrilled to do. Make it fun with this competitive family game! Pick a word of the day and see who can use it correctly the most times. This game will help your child learn new words by getting her to use them in real conversations. Increasing your child’s vocabulary is important for her grasp of the English language, and can also help her score higher on those tricky standardized tests.
What You Need:
- 20 index cards
- Black marker
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Bag or box
- Poster board
- Invisible tape
- Dictionary
What You Do:
- Prepare for the game: With the black marker, write a different vocabulary word on each index card and then put them all into a box or bag. For pointers on what words to use, you may want to look over your child’s homework or check with a teacher to see which vocabulary words your child needs to learn.
- At the top of the poster board, have your child write a title, such as «Word of the Day,» in big block letters. Leave some space underneath for the rest of the project.
- Use the pencil to trace an index card 5 times on the poster board, arranging the 5 rectangles like 5 dots on a domino. Leave some room around each rectangle so you have space to write the days of the week, and be sure to leave several inches at the bottom of the poster where you will write the names of each family member.
- Above each rectangle, have your child write the days of the week in order. Monday should be the top-left rectangle, Wednesday should be the one in the center, and Friday should be on the bottom-right.
- Underneath that, use the ruler to divide the remaining space into four equal quadrants. Invite your child to write each family member’s name in the upper-left corner of each quadrant and be sure she leaves enough space for tally marks to keep score. (Note: for families with more than 4 members, have one or both parents sit out so the kids can compete against each other.)
- How to play: At breakfast each day, have your child draw a word from the bag and read it out loud. If anyone can define the word, encourage them to explain it to the rest of the family. If not, look it up in the dictionary and then give examples of the ways you could use the word in a conversation.
- Give your child a piece of Scotch removable tape and then have her paste it under the correct day of the week.
- The object of the game is to see which family member can use the word the most times correctly in conversation. Have each person keep track of how many times they use it in that day. Maybe add to the challenge by seeing who can come up with the most creative or silly way to use the word in a sentence!
- At dinner time, each family member will share how many times they use the word during the day and for each time someone used it, have your child put a tally mark next to their name. Share stories with each other about how you used the word, and with whom.
- For the rest of the week, your child will draw a new card every morning and tape it to the poster, and every evening your child will tally up each family member’s score.
- On the weekend, the goal is to use as many of the 5 words that were used during the week in conversation. But if you’d rather take a break on the weekend, that’s fine too, just skip to the next step.
- On Sunday, help your child add up all the points that each family member received over the week. Whoever has the most points gets the title «Word of the Day Champion!» Reward the vocabulary whiz by letting her choose what’s for dinner that night or what movie the family will watch. Another idea: make a silly «crown» out of an old hat or construction paper that the Word of the Day champion can wear the rest of the week. This activity is a great way to increase your child’s vocabulary and get the whole family involved, but don’t expect to do it every week—you’ll run out of words!