architrave
/ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/
"architrave" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“architrave” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 10
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The lowest part of an entablature; rests on the capitals of the columns.
Corpus desk
Index EN-architrave · architrave · English
architrave · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-MEGA 10 letters
- VOW-4 4 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "A" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | architrave |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/ |
| Letters | 10 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “architrave” in English
Rare enough to double-check
architrave is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for architrave, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: First attested 1563, borrowed from Italian architrave, from archi- (“main”) + trave (“beam”). The correct English form is architrave, spelled A-R-C-H-I-T-R-A-V-E.
Definition
- 1The lowest part of an entablature; rests on the capitals of the columns.
- 2The moldings (or other elements) framing a door, window or other rectangular opening.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how architrave appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
Flutings also adorn the short architraves each side of the fanlight, and the abacus of the pilaster columns which is carried across a supplementary lintel in front of the lintel proper, the latter being several inches to the rear because of the deeply recessed arrangement of the door.
I know that one hinge of this door has parted with the woodwork. Dry rot has turned the architrave to compacted dust.
Etymology
First attested 1563, borrowed from Italian architrave, from archi- (“main”) + trave (“beam”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.