balustrade

IPA/ˌbæləˈstreɪd/
IPA/ˈbæləstreɪd/

balustrade — noun

  • balustradesingular
  • balustradesplural

1. a protective barrier made of short vertical supports with a continuous rail acro

1.nounB2
Definition

a protective barrier made of short vertical supports with a continuous rail across the top, placed along stairways, balconies, bridges, or terraces so that nobody falls off the side

Example

Ayanda held the marble balustrade as she climbed the wide steps of the city library.

marble balustrade

A wooden balustrade runs along the rooftop terrace to keep visitors safe near the edge.

wooden balustrade runs along

Common collocations
  • marble balustrade
  • wooden balustrade
  • iron balustrade
  • stone balustrade
  • balcony balustrade
  • staircase balustrade
Synonyms
  • railing

    more general term for any barrier of posts and bars; less architectural in tone

  • banister

    specifically the handrail and posts on a staircase, not used for balconies or bridges

Grammar Patterns

balustrade + of + place

adjective + balustrade

Usage Note

A balustrade includes both the vertical posts (balusters) and the top rail; the simpler word railing is more common in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The old banister stretches across the hotel balcony.
The old balustrade stretches across the hotel balcony.
Banister specifically refers to stair railings, while balustrade also covers balconies, bridges, and terraces.

2. the long bar that sits on top of a row of balusters, designed for people to hold

2.nounC1
Definition

the long bar that sits on top of a row of balusters, designed for people to hold for balance or to complete the look of the railing

Example

Zara polished the oak balustrade until the shiny top bar reflected the hallway lights.

polished the oak balustrade

Kofi's fingers traced the carved pattern along the mahogany balustrade as he walked downstairs.

Common collocations
  • oak balustrade
  • mahogany balustrade
  • curved balustrade
  • polished balustrade
  • carved balustrade
  • worn smooth
Synonyms
  • handrail

    the everyday word for a rail you hold for support; more common than balustrade for this sense

  • top rail

    a purely descriptive term used in carpentry and architecture

Grammar Patterns

balustrade + of + [structure]

adjective + balustrade

Usage Note

This narrower sense refers only to the top bar (also called the handrail), not the whole assembly of posts. Many speakers use balustrade for sense 1 only and call this part the handrail.

Common Mistakes

The marble balustrade has cracked in several places' (when meaning the top bar only).
The marble handrail has cracked in several places.
Use handrail for just the top bar to avoid ambiguity.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Balustrade, railing, banister, and handrail all refer to barriers or supports along edges, but they differ in scope. Balustrade is the most specific architectural term: it describes a row of short vertical posts (balusters) topped by a continuous rail, found on staircases, balconies, bridges, or terraces. Railing is the broadest term and can refer to any fence-like barrier of posts and bars, from a simple deck railing to an elaborate metal fence. Banister is restricted to staircases only — it means the handrail and the posts that support it along a flight of stairs. Handrail focuses on the horizontal bar you grip for support, whether on stairs, in a hallway, or on a ramp. For example, you would say "the balcony's stone balustrade" but not "the balcony's banister"; you might say "hold the handrail" on a staircase, but that handrail might be the top part of a larger balustrade.

balustrade ↗railing ↗banister ↗handrail ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • balustrade design
  • balustrade section
  • balustrade post

Phrases

  • a row of ... balustrade
  • the edge of the balustrade

Prepositions

  • along the balustrade
  • over the balustrade
  • against the balustrade

Etymology

ItalianFrenchEnglish

Balustrade came into English from French in the 1600s, and the French word came from Italian balaustrata, meaning 'furnished with balusters'. The Italian word balaustro (pillar) was influenced by balaustra, the Italian name for the flower of the pomegranate, because the curving shape of the flower's petals reminded people of the carved posts used in Renaissance railings.