1. horizontal structural elements (typically made of wood, stone, or metal) that span openings such as doors or windows to support the weight above
Usage: architecture; construction

Examples

• The stone lintels above the castle doorways were carved with intricate designs.
• The contractor installed steel lintels to support the brick wall above the new windows.
• Ancient Greek temples featured massive marble lintels spanning the columns.
• The wooden lintels in the old farmhouse were beginning to sag under the weight.
• Modern construction often uses reinforced concrete lintels for durability.
• The architect specified custom lintels to match the building’s historic character.