(n.) The exterior curve of an arch; esp., the upper curved face of the whole body of voussoirs. See Intrados.
Example Sentences:
Spandrel
Definition:
(n.) The irregular triangular space between the curve of an arch and the inclosing right angle; or the space between the outer moldings of two contiguous arches and a horizontal line above them, or another arch above and inclosing them.
(n.) A narrow mat or passe partout for a picture.
Example Sentences:
(1) The 57-story Vdara hotel in Las Vegas, a trio of curving glass towers, was the pride of its owners, a gleaming citadel of 1,500 rooms, clad in 3,000 "double-pane acid-etched spandrel glass panels for energy-efficient heating and cooling".
(2) The recent introduction of the Fisch II spandrel total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP), has provided impressive initial hearing benefits in patients.
(3) Furthermore, the diameter of the spandrel shaft is crucially important, with an increase in magnitude of the first natural frequency of 54% for a 25% increase in shaft diameter.