gable

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnical

   The triangular part of an outside wall that rises to a point beneath the two sloping sides of a roof.

   Grammar: Refers to the wall section, not the roof: the gable faces the street.

   Patterns

   • the gable of something
   • a gable end

   A small round window sat high in the gable of the old barn.

   Ivy had climbed the gable until it reached the roof.

   The house's front gable faces the street.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A decorative triangular structure above a door, window, or wall, imitating the shape of a roof end.

   Grammar: Often found on traditional or Gothic buildings.

   Patterns

   • a gable over something

   A carved gable crowned the cathedral doorway.

   The architect added a small gable above each window.

   Stone gables line the old canal street.

Word forms

Common combinations

gable roof

A gable roof lets rain and snow slide off easily.

gable end

The gable end of the cottage faces the sea.

front gable

They painted the front gable a pale blue.

a gable window

A gable window lit the attic room.

steep gable

The chapel has a steep gable and a tall chimney.

Synonyms and how they differ

pediment

Pediment is the classical triangular part above columns, a stately term compared with gable.

gable end

Gable end is a fuller phrase that makes clear you mean the wall instead of the roof.

peak

Peak refers only to the highest point, not the whole triangular wall.

Word family

gabled adjective

having a gable or gables, as in a gabled roof

gable-end adjective

located at or facing the triangular end wall

gablet noun

a small gable, used on towers and dormers

cross-gable noun

a gable that runs at a right angle to the main roof

Commonly confused: gable or gabble?

Practice

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