Apse is a semicircular room at the end of the central aisle of a church. The altar usually stands here.

Arch is a curved structure built to span an opening. It is made of wedge-shaped blocks called voussoirs.

Cantilever is a horizontal beam that is supported at one end and is free at the other end.

Caryatid is a draped female statue used as a column in classical architecture.

Chevet is the eastern end of a Romanesque or Gothic church.

Coffer is a recessed panel in a ceiling or vault.

Column is an upright structure designed to support a weight above. It has three parts: a base, a shaft, and a capital.

Corbeled Arch is formed by building the sides of two walls closer and closer together until the gap between them can be bridged with a row of bricks. It is not a true arch because it is not curved.

Dome is a roof shaped like a half sphere. To build a dome on a square or rectangular building, an architect may use either penditives or squinches. Penditives are curved triangular supports placed at each corner of the building. Squinches are diagonal arches or vaults built across the corners of the building.

Dormer is a small, house-like structure that projects from a slanting roof and includes a window.

Engaged Column is a column that is partly attached to a wall or a pillar.

Entablature is the part of a classical building between the top of the columns and the roof. It has three sections. The architrave on the bottom connects the columns. The frieze in the middle may be decorated with carved figures. The cornice on top juts out to support the edge of the roof.

Fenestration is a building's arrangement of windows.

Fluting is a series of up-and-down grooves in a column.

Geodesic Dome is a strong, lightweight dome built on a framework of triangular-shaped blocks. It has no internal supports.

Lantern is a small, decorative structure that crowns a dome. It has openings to admit light into the building.

Mullion is a slim, vertical bar between window panes.

Nave is the central aisle of a church, leading from the main entrance to the apse.

Patio is a court in traditional Spanish and Latin-American houses, or a similar court in modern houses.

Pedestal is a block used to support a column.

Pediment is a triangular space formed by a sloping roof and the horizontal cornice beneath the roof.

Peristyle is a continuous row of columns surrounding a building or a court.

Pier is a support for beams, arches, or vaults. It is also the section of wall between two windows or doors.

Pilaster is a flat, rectangular strip attached to a wall. It looks like a flattened column, and has a base, shaft, and capital.

Portico is a porch whose roof is supported by rows of columns.

Post and Lintel is a method of construction in which vertical beams (posts) support a horizontal beam (lintel). It is also called trabeated construction. Many early peoples used post and lintel construction before the arch was invented.

Steel Skeleton is a cagelike structure that forms the framework of a skyscraper. Walls are hung on the skeleton to enclose the building.

Transept is a hall in a cross-shaped church. The transept crosses the nave at right angles.

Vault is a roof or ceiling built on the principle of an arch. A barrel vault is a single, continuous arch. A groined vault is formed by joining two or more barrel vaults at right angles. A ribbed vault has diagonal arches called ribs that project from the surface. In Gothic buildings, the ribs are pointed.