[kan-tl-ee-ver, -ev-er] 
| 1. | 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. | Building Trades, Civil Engineering. any rigid construction extending horizontally well beyond its vertical support, used as a structural element of a bridge (cantilever 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. |
| 5. | to project in the manner of a cantilever. |
| 6. | to construct in the manner of a cantilever. |
| cantilever bridge n. A bridge formed by two projecting beams or trusses that are joined in the center by a connecting member and are supported on piers and anchored by counterbalancing members. |
| cantilever (kān'tl-ē'vər, -ěv'ər) Pronunciation Key
A projecting structure, such as a beam, that is supported at one end and that carries a load at the other end or along its length. Cantilevers are important structures in the design of bridges and cranes. |
tlˌi