Spandrel

noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The space (often more or less triangular) between the outer curve of an arch (the extrados) and a straight-sided figure that bounds it; the space between two contiguous arches and a straight feature above them.

    "Usual practice then builds a wall above each curved end of the arch, known as a spandrel, which directly joins the bridge's sidewalls. […] With sidewalls and spandrels in place, you can fill the space between them with material up to the height of the bridge deck, and then place the road or railway on top."

  2. 2
    an approximately triangular surface area between two adjacent arches and the horizontal plane above them wordnet
  3. 3
    Horizontal member between the windows of successive storeys of a tall building.

    "2002, Kerstin Lang, Seismic Vulnerability of Existing Buildings, vdf Hochschulverlag AG, page 25, Due to the fact that the walls are joined by floors and spandrels, a coupling effect is produced. Depending on the extent of the spandrels, this coupling effect will be bigger or smaller."

  4. 4
    The triangular space under a stair; the material that fills the space.
  5. 5
    An oriental rug having a pattern of arches; the design in the corners of such a rug, especially in a prayer rug.
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  1. 6
    A phenotypic characteristic that evolved as a side effect of an adaptation in response to evolutionary pressure.

    "Another type of theory emphasises the sometimes accidental nature of evolution. A spandrel is a structure arising as a by-product of some other architectural configuration. In evolutionary terms, a spandrel is some trait of an organism which emerges not through direct adaptionist or exaptationist means, but rather as a side effect of some other evolutionary development."

  2. 7
    soffit (usually used to describe metal or corrugated plastic types of roof soffit) Philippines

Synonyms

All synonyms
spandril

Example

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"The human brain is a spandrel? Ok, says the guy who used his brain to think that..."

Etymology

From a diminutive in -el of Anglo-Norman spaundre, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old French espandre (“to expand, extend, spread”). More at spawn, expand. In the field of biology first used by Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Lewontin.

Related phrases

prayer rugside effect

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.