IELTS READING - Topic Words [ARCHITECTURE]

词汇/词组	英文释义	词汇变形或常见词组	例句
temple	a building used for the worship of a god or gods in some religions		The temple is noted for its rich carvings.
pagoda	a tall religious building in Asia with many levels, each of which has a curved roof		The pagoda stands like a giant at the top of the mountain.
skyscraper	a very tall modern building, usually in a city		The skyscraper towers into the clouds.
block	a square group of buildings	an office block写字楼 a tower block 塔楼 a block of flats 公寓楼	I took a walk around the block.
storey	a level of a building	a three-storey house 三层楼房子	Their new house has three storeys including the attic.
steel	a strong metal that is a mixture of iron and carbon		The company has interests in steel and other products.
concrete	a very hard building material made by mixing together cement, sand, small stones, and water	a concrete floor/path 混凝土地面/道路reinforced concrete 钢筋混凝土concrete evidence 确凿的证据	A row of reinforced concrete pillars supports the bridge.
magnificent	ery good, beautiful, or deserving to be admired		The view from the top of the mountain is magnificent.
stable	firmly fixed	stably 稳定地 stability 稳定性 unstable 不稳定的	If the foundations of the house aren’t stable, collapse is possible.
unscathed	without injuries or damage being caused		He walked away from the accident completely unscathed.
slender	thin and delicate, often in a way that is attractive		The plant’s leaves are long and slender.
erect	to build a building, wall, or other structure	erection 建立 erectus直立人	The war memorial was erected in 1950.
level	to completely destroy a building or area		The bombing levelled the village.
industry	the companies and activities involved in the process of producing goods for sale, especially in a factory or special area	the tourist industry 旅游业 manufacturing industry 制造业	The government is trying to attract industry to the area .
masterpiece	a work of art such as a painting, film, or book that is made with great skill		His book is a masterpiece.
disastrous	causing great harm, damage, or suffering		It was a disastrous mistake which he lived to regret.
earthquake	a sudden violent movement of the earth's surface, sometimes causing great damage		In 1906 an earthquake destroyed much of San Francisco.
cement	a grey powder that is mixed with water and sand to make mortar or with water, sand, and small stones to make concrete		There weren’t any chairs, so she sat on the cement.
worship	to have or show a strong feeling of respect and admiration for God or a god		On the island the people worshipped different gods.
iron	a chemical element that is a common greyish-coloured metal. It is strong, used in making steel		A heavy iron chain was clamped around his wrists.
delicate	needing careful treatment, especially because easily damaged		Peaches have delicate skins which are easily bruised.
stepwell	subterranean edifice and water source		Stepwells were fundamental to life in the driest parts of India.
descend	to go or come down	descension. n. 降下；降落. descendant n. 后裔；子孙 descent n. 下降，斜坡	The path descended steeply into the valley.
ground level	first floor		The shop is on the ground level.
underground	below the surface of the earth		Moles live underground.
aquifer	a layer of rock, sand, or earth that contains water or allows water to pass through it		The aquifer which had once fed the wells was pronounced dry.
step	one of the surfaces that you walk on when you go up or down stairs		Mind the step as you leave the train.
negotiate	to manage to travel along a difficult route		It's difficult for people in wheelchairs to negotiate steps.
pillar	a strong column made of stone, metal, or wood that supports part of a building		A row of reinforced concrete pillars supports the bridge.
pavilion	a building near a sports field, especially one where cricket is played, used by the players and sometimes by people watching the game		The British pavilion is an impressive steel and glass construction.
shelter	(a building designed to give) protection from bad weather, danger, or attack		The trees gave some shelter from the rain.
decorative	made to look attractive	decoration 装饰物；装饰 decorate 装饰 decorator 油漆匠，裱糊匠	The curtains are for purely decorative purposes and do not open or close.
sculpture	the art of forming solid objects that represent a thing, person, idea, etc. out of a material such as wood, clay, metal, or stone		Tom teaches sculpture at the local art school.
embellish	to make something more beautiful by adding something to it		The ceiling was embellished with flowers and leaves.
architecture	the style in which buildings are made		The town's modern architecture is very well integrated with the old.
geometrical	consisting of shapes such as squares, triangles, or rectangles		The application of geometrical design innovations brings the novelty on the vision to experience to us.
terrace	a flat area of stone or grass outside a house, where people sit and sometimes eat		The music from the party wafts out to the terrace.
carve	to make something by cutting into especially wood or stone, or to cut into the surface of stone, wood, etc.		The wood had been carved into the shape of a flower.
shrine	a place for worship that is holy because of a connection with a holy person or object		Islam's most sacred shrine is at Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
solid	hard or firm, keeping a clear shape		The ground was frozen solid.
column	a tall, vertical stone post, used as a support for a roof or in classical buildings		The roof of the temple was held up by a row of thick stone columns.