A cantilever is a long piece of metal or wood used in a structure such as a bridge. One end is fastened to something and the other end is used to support part of the structure.
...the old steel cantilever bridge.
cantilever in British English
(ˈkæntɪˌliːvə)
noun
1.
a.
a beam, girder, or structural framework that is fixed at one end and is free at the other
b.
(as modifier)
a cantilever wing
2.
a wing or tailplane of an aircraft that has no external bracing or support
3.
a part of a beam or a structure projecting outwards beyond its support
verb
4. (transitive)
to construct (a building member, beam, etc) so that it is fixed at one end only
5. (intransitive)
to project like a cantilever
Word origin
C17: perhaps from cant2 + lever
cantilever in American English
(ˈkæntəlˌivər; ˈkæntəlˌɛvər)
noun
1.
a large bracket or block projecting from a wall to support a balcony, cornice, etc.
2.
a projecting beam or structure supported at only one end, that is anchored as to a pier or wall
verb transitive
3.
to support by means of cantilevers
Derived forms
cantilevered (ˈcantiˌlevered)
adjective
Word origin
as if < cant2 + -i- + lever, but < ?
Word lists with
cantilever
parts of an aircraft, parts of an aircraft, architectural features