apteral

US: (ap′tər əl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•ter•al  (ap′tər əl), adj. [Archit.]

1. Architecture (of a classical temple) not having a surrounding colonnade;
   not peripteral.
2. Architecture (of a church) having no aisles.
3. Architecture (of a church façade) revealing no aisles.

• Greek ápter(os) wingless (a- a-⁶ + -pteros -pterous) + -al¹
• 1825–35