building definition

English building definition

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɪl.dɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪldɪŋ
• Hyphenation: build‧ing

Etymology 1

From Middle English byldynge, buyldyng, byldyng, buldynge, buldyng, boldyng, equivalent to build +‎ -ing. Compare also related Middle English bold (“edifice, castle, mansion”), from Old English bold (“building, dwelling, house”).

Noun

building (countable and uncountable, plural buildings)

1. (uncountable) The act or process by which something is built; construction.

   Synonym: construction

   The building of the bridge will be completed in a couple of weeks.

2. (countable) A closed structure with walls and a roof.

   Synonyms: edifice; see also Thesaurus:building

   My sister lives in that apartment building.

   • 2013 July 19, Mark Tran, “Denied an education by war”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 1:

     One particularly damaging, but often ignored, effect of conflict on education is the proliferation of attacks on schools […] as children, teachers or school buildings become the targets of attacks. Parents fear sending their children to school. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• building on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

From Middle English beeldynge, equivalent to build +‎ -ing.

Verb

building

1. present participle and gerund of build

French building definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English building.

Pronunciation

• (France) IPA^(key): /bil.diŋ/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /bɪl.dɪŋ/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

building m (plural buildings)

1. tower, skyscraper (tall building)

   Synonyms: gratte-ciel, tour

Further reading

• “building”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.