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Entasis for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'ɛntəsɪs

What does Entasis really mean?

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Alright, so "Entasis" is a word that's used in architecture and it means a slight outward curve or bulge in the shaft of a column. It's kind of like when you take a straight line and give it a little bit of a curve, but not too much. It's a way to make things look straight and proportional to our eyes, even though they might not be perfectly straight.

Think of it like this - imagine if you had a stack of building blocks that were all perfectly straight up and down. It might look a little weird to our eyes, because things in nature aren't always perfectly straight and symmetrical. So, builders in ancient times came up with the idea of entasis to make their columns and structures look more pleasing and natural.

This was a pretty big deal back in ancient times, because they didn't have all the fancy tools and technology we have today. They had to do it all by hand, and getting that slight curve just right took a lot of skill and craftsmanship.

So, when you look at old buildings with columns, like the Parthenon in Greece, you might notice that the columns aren't perfectly straight. That's because the builders used entasis to make them look just right.

So, that's the gist of what "entasis" means. It's all about making things look nice and proportionate in architecture. It's a small detail, but it can make a big difference in how we perceive and appreciate the beauty of a building. Cool, right?

Revised and Fact checked by Michael Rodriguez on 2023-11-13 17:45:21

Entasis In a sentece

Learn how to use Entasis inside a sentece

  • The entasis of the columns in the ancient Greek Parthenon helps create an optical illusion of straightness from a distance.
  • The entasis of the wooden spoon makes it easier to grip and use for cooking.
  • The entasis of the pencil allows for a more comfortable and natural grip while writing or drawing.
  • The entasis of the basketball provides better bounce and control during a game.
  • The entasis of the vase adds an elegant and balanced look to the overall design.

Entasis Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Entasis Holonyms

The larger whole to which this word belongs.