architrave

/ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/

//ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv// noun

"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 May 6, 2026) - The lowest part of an entablature; rests on the capitals of the columns.

Key facts for architrave
PropertyValue
Headwordarchitrave
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “architrave” sits in English frequency

architrave falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

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

  1. 1
    The lowest part of an entablature; rests on the capitals of the columns.
  2. 2
    The moldings (or other elements) framing a door, window or other rectangular opening.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "architrave"?
"architrave" is spelled A-R-C-H-I-T-R-A-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/.
What does "architrave" mean?
As a noun, "architrave" means: The lowest part of an entablature; rests on the capitals of the columns.
How do you pronounce "architrave"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "architrave" is /ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "architrave"?
First attested 1563, borrowed from Italian architrave, from archi- (“main”) + trave (“beam”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “architrave”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-R-C-H-I-T-R-A-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɑɹ.kɪ.tɹeɪv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list