Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rafter

/ˈɹæftɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.56 in modern English

Syllables: raft-er
IPA: /ˈɹæftɚ/

9

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

One of a series of sloped beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave, designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.

noun

A flock of turkeys.

verb

To make (timber, etc.) into rafters.

Transitive verb

verb

To furnish (a building) with rafters.

Transitive verb

verb

To plough so as to turn the grass side of each furrow upon an unploughed ridge; to ridge.

British usage

noun

name

Example Sentences

"[…] the pigeons fluttered up to the rafters"
"A turkey will always seek the company of another turkey, and ultimately that of the rafter."
"the sons went off to share the trip to market - swarms of swine and rafters of turkeys - whilst the elders stayed behind to keep the house warm."
"Sighting large flocks, or rafters, of turkeys is common in the area."

Etymology

From Old English ræfter, of Germanic origin, related to the origin of raft.

Origin

Source language: Old English

Word Breakdown

Root: ræfter, -

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɹæftɚ/
British English: /ˈɹɑːftəː/

Usage

Transitive verb
British usage

Inflected Forms

rafters (plural) rafters (present, singular) raftering (participle, present) raftered (participle, past) raftered (past)

Derived Forms

rafterless

Phrases

jack rafter packed to the rafters rafter snapper valley rafter

Synonyms

balk baulk

Rhymes With

after laughter thereafter hereafter drafter ever after happily ever after hereinafter crafter grafter thereinafter

Questions

How do you pronounce rafter?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹæftɚ/.
What does rafter mean?: One of a series of sloped beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave, designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.
Where does rafter come from?: It is traced to Old English.

How to pronounce rafter

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “rafter”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɹæftɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “rafter”.
Repeat and practice — Say “rafter” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.