WordVale

eaves

/iːvz/  ·  say it: EEVZ

the part of a roof overhanging the walls

In Architecture & Design

In more detail

1. (noun) the part of a roof that overhangs and projects beyond the wall of a building

2. (noun) the edge or border of something (archaic)

Examples

• 1. Rain dripped from the eaves of the old house.
• 2. We stood under the eaves to stay dry during the storm.

How to use eaves

Eaves refers to the lower border of a roof that juts out over the walls of a building, typically where gutters are installed. It is a standard architectural term used in both formal and everyday contexts. The archaic sense meaning edge or border is rarely encountered in modern English, though it survives in the verb eavesdrop, originally meaning to stand under the eaves of a house to overhear conversations.

Common phrases

• under the eaves
• beneath the eaves
• eaves of the roof
• gutters and eaves
• eaves trough

Synonyms

overhang · cornice · soffit

Word family

eavesdrop · eavesdropper

A common mistake

Learners sometimes treat 'eaves' as singular (using 'an eave') when it is always plural in standard usage; the singular form 'eave' is extremely rare and non-standard.

Nearby in Architecture & Design

canopy, cupola, dormer, edifice, foyer, foundation

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained