scaffolding

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A temporary frame of poles and boards put up beside a building so people can work on it safely.

   Grammar: Uncountable: some scaffolding, a piece of scaffolding.

   Patterns

   • scaffolding around something
   • put up scaffolding

   Scaffolding covered the front of the old church.

   Workers climbed the scaffolding to repair the roof.

   The city removed the scaffolding after the repairs.

2. 2noununcountablefigurative

   Temporary help or guidance given to learners that is gradually removed as they become able to manage alone.

   Grammar: Used in education; also called instructional scaffolding.

   Patterns

   • provide scaffolding
   • scaffolding for learners

   The teacher gave beginners plenty of scaffolding, like sentence starters.

   Gradually remove the scaffolding so students can think for themselves.

   Good scaffolding helps children tackle hard problems.

3. 3noununcountablefigurative

   A basic supporting structure or framework that holds something together.

   Grammar: Used figuratively for systems or rules: the legal scaffolding.

   Patterns

   • the scaffolding of something

   Ancient laws formed the scaffolding of the new constitution.

   The report provides the scaffolding for future research.

   Habits are the scaffolding of a stable life.

Common combinations

erect scaffolding

Workers erected scaffolding along the side of the house.

scaffolding collapse

A scaffolding collapse closed the street.

remove scaffolding

Remove the scaffolding once the paint is dry.

provide scaffolding

Teachers provide scaffolding for new readers.

steel scaffolding

Steel scaffolding is more durable than wood.

Synonyms and how they differ

framework

Framework is a permanent or abstract structure, while scaffolding is temporary and removed later.

support

Support is a general word for help, but scaffolding implies planned help that is gradually withdrawn.

staging

Staging is a more technical or British word for a temporary platform for workers or performers.

Word family

scaffold noun

a single platform or structure of scaffolding

scaffold verb

to provide temporary support, often in learning

scaffolder noun

a worker who builds scaffolding

Commonly confused: scaffolding or scaffold?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “scaffolding”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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