Definition

1. Noun:
   • A structural wall that supports weight from above: A "bearing wall" is a wall designed to carry and transfer the vertical load (weight) of a building's structure, such as floors or a roof, down to the foundations. It is a critical structural element.

Usage

• A "bearing wall" is a technical term used in architecture, construction, and engineering. It is essential to identify these walls during renovations, as their removal without proper structural support can compromise a building's integrity.
• Example:
• Example:

Advanced Usage

• "Load-bearing wall": This is a common synonym and is often used interchangeably with "bearing wall." It explicitly states the wall's function of bearing a load.
  • The inspection report identified all the load-bearing walls in the basement.

Variants and Related Words

• Non-bearing wall (or partition wall): A wall that does not support any structural load from above; it serves only to divide space.
  • The office cubicles are separated by non-bearing walls.

Synonyms

• Load-bearing wall
• Supporting wall
• Structural wall

Antonyms

• Non-bearing wall
• Partition wall
• Curtain wall (a non-structural exterior wall)

Related Phrases

• "To be a bearing wall": To function as a structural support.
  • This interior wall turns out to be a bearing wall, so we cannot simply knock it down.

Noun

1. any wall supporting a floor or the roof of a building