noun
- triangular decorative elements crowning the front of buildings, especially in classical architecture
- broad, gently sloping rock surfaces formed by erosion at the base of mountain ranges
Usage: architecture
Usage: geology
Examples
- The ancient Greek temple featured elaborate pediments decorated with sculptural reliefs.
- Classical pediments typically display mythological scenes carved in marble.
- The courthouse was designed with traditional pediments above its main entrance.
- Modern architects sometimes incorporate simplified pediments into contemporary designs.
- Desert pediments extend for miles from the mountain base into the valley.
- Geologists study pediments to understand long-term erosion patterns.
- The pediments in this region formed over millions of years of weathering.