cantilever

UK: /ˈkæntɪliːvə^r/

US: /ˈkæntəˌlivɚ, -ˌlɛvɚ/

US: (kan′tl ē′vər, -ev′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•ti•le•ver /ˈkæntəˌlivɚ, -ˌlɛvɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Civil Engineering, Building a long, rigid beam or bracket that supports a larger construction, such as a balcony.

See -lev-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•ti•le•ver  (kan′tl ē′vər, -ev′ər), n. 

1. Civil Engineering, Building any rigid structural member projecting from a vertical support, esp. one in which the projection is great in relation to the depth, so that the upper part is in tension and the lower part in compression.
2. Civil Engineering, Building [Building Trades, Civ. Engin.] any rigid construction extending horizontally well beyond its vertical support, used as a structural element of a bridge (can′tilever bridge′), building foundation, etc.
3. Aeronautics a form of wing construction in which no external bracing is used.
4. Architecture a bracket for supporting a balcony, cornice, etc.

v.i. 

5. Civil Engineering, Building to project in the manner of a cantilever.

v.t. 

6. Civil Engineering, Building to construct in the manner of a cantilever.

Also, cantalever, cantaliver. 

• perh. cant² + -i- + lever 1660–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cantilever / ˈkæntɪˌliːvə/ noun

1. a beam, girder, or structural framework that is fixed at one end and is free at the other
2. a part of a beam or a structure projecting outwards beyond its support

Etymology: 17th Century: perhaps from cant² + lever