Meaning & use
plinth block
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A small block, often decorative, set at the base of a door or window frame where it meets the floor or wall.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a plinth block' or 'plinth blocks'.
Patterns
- a plinth block at the base of something
- install a plinth block
The carpenter fitted a plinth block at the bottom of the doorframe to cover the joint.
In this old house, each window has a decorative plinth block at the sill.
You can buy plinth blocks in various sizes to match your baseboards.
Word forms
| plural | plinth blocks |
|---|
Common combinations
- decorative plinth block
- The decorative plinth block added a touch of elegance to the doorway.
- wooden plinth block
- He replaced the damaged wooden plinth block with a new one.
- plinth block detail
- The architect specified a plinth block detail for all the interior doors.
Synonyms and how they differ
- base block
- A more general term for a block at the base of something, not necessarily architectural.
- plinth
- A plinth is the base itself, often larger and supporting a column or statue; a plinth block is specifically the small block at a door or window frame.
Word family
- plinth noun
- The base or lower part of a column, wall, or piece of furniture.
Commonly confused: plinth block or plinth?
plinth block vs plinth
A plinth is a general base, while a plinth block is a specific trim piece at the bottom of a door or window frame.
Practice
Where would you typically find a plinth block?
Choose one answer.
A plinth block is placed at the base of a door or window frame, not at the top of a column or on a roof.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plinth block”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.