Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Houses and Buildings

Here you will learn some English words about houses and buildings, such as "cellar", "shed", "concrete", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL
mansion [noun]

a very large and impressive house

Ex: The mansion has ten bedrooms , a swimming pool , and a large garden .

a large structure, such as a tower, placed near the coast and equipped with a powerful light that guides or warns the approaching ships

Ex: As dusk fell , the lighthouse began to glow , casting its light across the darkening ocean .

a modern building that is very tall, often built in a city

Ex: The architect designed a futuristic skyscraper with glass facades .

a large place in which raw materials or produced goods are stored before they are sold or distributed

Ex: Automated robots now navigate the warehouse , significantly speeding up the process of sorting and retrieving items .
shelter [noun]

a structure offering protection and privacy from danger

Ex: Soldiers constructed a temporary shelter for the night .
cellar [noun]

an underground storage space or room, typically found in a building, used for storing food, wine, or other items that require a cool and dark environment

Ex: She found a hidden door in the kitchen that led down to the cellar .
landmark [noun]

a structure or a place that is historically important

Ex:
property [noun]

a building or the piece of land surrounding it, owned by individuals, businesses, or entities

Ex: He invested in rental properties as a source of passive income .
shed [noun]

a simple and small cottage-like building that is built to store things or shelter animals

Ex: The children turned the old shed into a cozy clubhouse for their games .
tomb [noun]

an overground or underground grave that is large in size and is often made of stone

Ex: Visitors came from far and wide to see the famous royal tomb .
column [noun]

a vertical structural element, often made of stone, that supports the weight of the building above it

Ex: The interior of the cathedral was adorned with ornate columns carved from marble .

anything that is built from several parts, such as a house, bridge, etc.

Ex: A beehive is a remarkable natural structure created by bees .

the process or action of making a building or a piece of furniture look good again by repairing or painting it

to build a house, bridge, machine, etc.

Ex: Skilled carpenters were hired to construct custom-made furniture for the luxury hotel .
concrete [noun]

a hard material used for building structures, made by mixing cement, water, sand, and small stones

Ex: She designed a beautiful patio using colored concrete for an attractive finish .

the area of a property where the stairs are located

the design of a building that depicts the shape, size, and positioning of rooms and furniture in a structure from above.

Ex: She made changes to the floor plan , adding an extra bedroom to accommodate her growing family .
exterior [adjective]

located on the outer surface of a particular thing

Ex:
interior [adjective]

located on the inside part of a particular thing

Ex: The interior lining of the jacket provides extra warmth in cold weather .
rooftop [noun]

the external surface of a building roof

Ex: The hotel has a rooftop pool with panoramic views of the sea .
chimney [noun]

a channel or passage that lets the smoke from a fire pass through and get out from the roof of a building

Ex: Santa Claus is often imagined coming down the chimney .
aisle [noun]

a narrow passage in a theater, train, aircraft, etc. that separates rows of seats

Ex: The train conductor moved up and down the aisle , checking tickets and assisting passengers with their luggage .
decor [noun]

the way a room or building's interior is decorated

Ex: She admired the modern decor of the new office building .
residential [adjective]

(of an area with buildings) designed specially for people to live in

Ex: Residential leases often include clauses outlining tenant responsibilities for property maintenance .
spacious [adjective]

(of a room, house, etc.) large with a lot of space inside

Ex: The hotel suite was spacious , with separate areas for sleeping , lounging , and dining .
vacant [adjective]

(of a house, room, seat, etc.) empty or unoccupied and available to be used

Ex: The hotel had a few vacant rooms available for last-minute bookings .
abandoned [adjective]

(of a building, car, etc.) left and not needed or used anymore

Ex:
drain [noun]

a pipe in the bottom of a sink, bath, etc. through which dirty water flows out

Ex: Residents were advised to avoid pouring grease down the drain to prevent clogs in the plumbing system .

(of a construction) to fall down suddenly, particularly due to being damaged or weak

Ex: The roof collapsed during the storm due to the heavy snow accumulation .

a person who plans and designs the interior of spaces by selecting colors, furniture, fabrics, and other decorative elements

Ex: The decorator arranged the furniture to maximize space and light .