sill

• Nom désignant un élément structurel horizontal formant la base d'une charpente ou d'une structure porteuse, ou une masse plane de roche magmatique intrudée entre des couches de roches sédimentaires.

A noun referring to a horizontal structural member forming the base of a framework or supporting structure, or a flat mass of igneous rock between layers of sedimentary rock.

1. Window sillA2formal

   The horizontal shelf or ledge at the bottom of a window frame, both inside and outside a building.

   Rebord de fenêtre

   • She placed a potted plant on the kitchen window sill.
   • Rainwater collected on the outer sill of the window.
   • He sat on the wide window sill and read a book.

   Synonymesledgeshelf

2. Structural timberC1formaltechnical

   A continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure, such as in a door frame or the base of a wall.

   Seuil (pièce de structure)

   • The carpenter replaced the rotted door sill with a new oak beam.
   • The building's foundation rests on a heavy timber sill.
   • A level sill is critical for the stability of the entire wall frame.

   Synonymesthreshold

3. Geological sillC2formalscientific

   A flat, usually horizontal mass of igneous rock that has been injected between layers of older sedimentary rock.

   Sill (filon-couche)

   • The Palisades in New Jersey are a famous example of a volcanic sill.
   • Geologists studied the exposed sill to understand the region's volcanic history.
   • The dark rock layer cutting across the lighter sandstone is a classic sill formation.