Definition of gargoyle in English:
gargoyle
noun ˈɡɑːɡɔɪlˈɡɑrˌɡɔɪl
A grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall.
- Squat and few in number to begin with, by the thirteenth century gargoyles became more numerous and had developed the projecting form characteristic of gothic cathedrals.
- The ancient Greeks adorned important buildings with gargoyles to throw water away from the foundations.
- A balustrade emphasized by gargoyles encircled each of the three steps.
- They are irrigated by surface water poured from gargoyles, a torrent that in winter becomes magically frozen.
- Lucy thought it very ironic that gargoyles were supposed to be ugly to serve their purpose, but whenever she saw one she considered it adorable.
- It was said of the stonemasons who made those never-to-be-seen gargoyles that they carved for the eye of God.
- The building had marvelously designed statues of gargoyles, angels and some other demon looking like creatures.
- On a Gothic building it was natural to provide gargoyles at cornice level.
- A towering castle of mud has screaming faces and gargoyles sculpted into its crenellated turrets.
- It's jutting out from the corner of the roof, so it could conceivably be a gargoyle proper or a grotesque.
- These descend to gargoyles which drain onto chains down the column face to gullies at the bottom.
- Partially destroyed statues of giant gargoyles were scattered around the wrecked houses.
- In my case I have a small gargoyle figurine that I purchased from the Chicago Institute of Architecture.
- For them, skulls, gargoyles, devils, and gothic knickknacks are part of the decoration.
- They all seemed to blend modern and ancient architecture, with ornaments ranging from statues of Chinese dragons to Gothic gargoyles.
- The advertisement, featuring gargoyles superimposed on top of York Minster, was due to be shown on Yorkshire and Tyne Tees tonight and will be aired throughout the week.
- The worst of the attack seemed to be over, but there was a clear sign that the gargoyles had not yet finished.
- What could go better with a medieval unit than gargoyles?
- The synagogue is renowned for its bright white exterior and lion-headed gargoyles, which are unusual because animal forms are rarely used in Jewish art.
- It was a tall, grand old building of stone and steel, with ornate windows and gargoyles leering down at her from the ramparts.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French gargouille 'throat', also 'gargoyle' (because of the water passing through the throat and mouth of the figure); related to Greek gargarizein 'to gargle' (imitating the sounds made in the throat).
Definition of gargoyle in US English:
gargoyle
nounˈɡɑrˌɡɔɪlˈɡärˌɡoil
A grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall.
- In my case I have a small gargoyle figurine that I purchased from the Chicago Institute of Architecture.
- These descend to gargoyles which drain onto chains down the column face to gullies at the bottom.
- It's jutting out from the corner of the roof, so it could conceivably be a gargoyle proper or a grotesque.
- They all seemed to blend modern and ancient architecture, with ornaments ranging from statues of Chinese dragons to Gothic gargoyles.
- The building had marvelously designed statues of gargoyles, angels and some other demon looking like creatures.
- The worst of the attack seemed to be over, but there was a clear sign that the gargoyles had not yet finished.
- They are irrigated by surface water poured from gargoyles, a torrent that in winter becomes magically frozen.
- The ancient Greeks adorned important buildings with gargoyles to throw water away from the foundations.
- Squat and few in number to begin with, by the thirteenth century gargoyles became more numerous and had developed the projecting form characteristic of gothic cathedrals.
- On a Gothic building it was natural to provide gargoyles at cornice level.
- It was said of the stonemasons who made those never-to-be-seen gargoyles that they carved for the eye of God.
- A balustrade emphasized by gargoyles encircled each of the three steps.
- The synagogue is renowned for its bright white exterior and lion-headed gargoyles, which are unusual because animal forms are rarely used in Jewish art.
- For them, skulls, gargoyles, devils, and gothic knickknacks are part of the decoration.
- Lucy thought it very ironic that gargoyles were supposed to be ugly to serve their purpose, but whenever she saw one she considered it adorable.
- The advertisement, featuring gargoyles superimposed on top of York Minster, was due to be shown on Yorkshire and Tyne Tees tonight and will be aired throughout the week.
- A towering castle of mud has screaming faces and gargoyles sculpted into its crenellated turrets.
- It was a tall, grand old building of stone and steel, with ornate windows and gargoyles leering down at her from the ramparts.
- What could go better with a medieval unit than gargoyles?
- Partially destroyed statues of giant gargoyles were scattered around the wrecked houses.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French gargouille ‘throat’, also ‘gargoyle’ (because of the water passing through the throat and mouth of the figure); related to Greek gargarizein ‘to gargle’ (imitating the sounds made in the throat).