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Noun: abutment  u'bút-munt
  1. A masonry support that touches and directly receives thrust or pressure of an arch or bridge
    "The massive stone abutments on either side of the river supported the weight of the bridge"
     
  2. Point of contact between two objects or parts
    "The engineer inspected the abutment where the bridge met the riverbank"

Derived forms: abutments

Type of: point, support

Encyclopedia: Abutment