Gargoyle
noun
A stone figure, usually scary or strange, on a building, especially in Gothic architecture.
The medieval cathedral is adorned with carved gargoyles.
Often appears as...
- stone gargoyle
- church gargoyle
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A waterspout, often in the form of a grotesque figure, projecting from the roof gutter of a building.
The water flows out of the gargoyle's mouth when it's raining.
Often appears as...
- gargoyle waterspout
- gargoyle drain
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A person who is very ugly or frightening.
After his boxing match, his face was bruised so badly that he looked like a gargoyle.
Often appears as...
- look like a gargoyle
- call someone a gargoyle
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A stone figure, usually scary or strange, on a building, especially in Gothic architecture.
The medieval cathedral is adorned with carved gargoyles.
Often appears as...
- stone gargoyle
- church gargoyle
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A waterspout, often in the form of a grotesque figure, projecting from the roof gutter of a building.
The water flows out of the gargoyle's mouth when it's raining.
Often appears as...
- gargoyle waterspout
- gargoyle drain
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A person who is very ugly or frightening.
After his boxing match, his face was bruised so badly that he looked like a gargoyle.
Often appears as...
- look like a gargoyle
- call someone a gargoyle
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Architectural Detail
Used to describe ornamental features on old buildings, especially churches and cathedrals.
We studied the building's architecture, including several imposing gargoyles.
Pro Tip 2/3Not A Creature
Remember, a gargoyle isn’t a real creature; it’s a carved stone decoration.
Don't be scared, it's just a gargoyle, not a real monster.
Pro Tip 3/3Gothic Association
Frequently associated with Gothic architecture, which means they’re not common in modern buildings.
Gargoyles are more likely found on Gothic buildings than on skyscrapers.
Compare with
carvechimeradecoratefiguregrotesquerieornamentsculpturestatue
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Video examples
Rory Stewart: Why...
those strange stone gargoyles just down the road, feel that we've become less than the sum of our parts, feel as though we have become profoundly diminished. And this isn't just a problem in Britain. It's a problem across the developing world,
Video examples
Resurrecting Notre-Dame...
staircases of the north bell tower these long long stone spiral staircases and then you pop out at one of the levels and you're on this balustrad or our balcony with all of these gargoyles the famous iconic
Video examples
Why democracy matters -...
sergeant majors all of them however including myself as we walk underneath those strange stone gargoyles just down the road feel that we become less than the sum of our parts feel as though we
Video examples
Rory Stewart: Why...
those strange stone gargoyles just down the road, feel that we've become less than the sum of our parts, feel as though we have become profoundly diminished. And this isn't just a problem in Britain. It's a problem across the developing world,
Video examples
Resurrecting Notre-Dame...
staircases of the north bell tower these long long stone spiral staircases and then you pop out at one of the levels and you're on this balustrad or our balcony with all of these gargoyles the famous iconic
Video examples
Why democracy matters -...
sergeant majors all of them however including myself as we walk underneath those strange stone gargoyles just down the road feel that we become less than the sum of our parts feel as though we
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
I. M. Pei
American Architect
In northern architecture - the cathedrals of Europe and all the little churches - the details, the carving of stone, become necessary because the light is not there to help you very much. You have to enrich surfaces. The desert reduces form to its simplest nature. There is no need for gargoyles or flying buttresses in the desert.
Quote examples
Marc Randolph
American Businessman
The biggest problem I see with early-stage entrepreneurs is they get the idea in their head, and they leave it in their head. And they begin embellishing it in their head, making it more ornate. They add on the second story to their dream house - then add the tennis court and the turrets and the gargoyles.
Quote examples
Bjarke Ingels
Danish Architect
When I started studying architecture, people would say, you know, 'Can you tell me why are all modern buildings so boring?' Because, like, people had this idea that in the good old days, architecture had, like, ornament and little towers and spires and gargoyles, and today, it just becomes very practical.
Quote examples
Scott Derrickson
American Director
When I went to Europe a few years ago, I felt very at home there, and I loved standing in Notre Dame and looking at all the gargoyles on the outside of that building and realizing that, as scary and frightening as they were, what I was looking at was something that was built to the glory of God.
Quote examples
Diane Ackerman
American Poet
Even without seeing the crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas and katydids, we hear them shrilling in this season and trust that they're the tiny living gargoyles entomologists claim.
Quote examples
Rosamund Pike
British Actress
I decided to finish at Oxford because I looked up at the top of the buildings - the gargoyles and spires - and decided to stay.
Quote examples
Keith David
American Actor
And it has some weight, I mean, the whole history of the gargoyles, that's some wonderful stuff.
Quote examples
I. M. Pei
American Architect
In northern architecture - the cathedrals of Europe and all the little churches - the details, the carving of stone, become necessary because the light is not there to help you very much. You have to enrich surfaces. The desert reduces form to its simplest nature. There is no need for gargoyles or flying buttresses in the desert.
Quote examples
Marc Randolph
American Businessman
The biggest problem I see with early-stage entrepreneurs is they get the idea in their head, and they leave it in their head. And they begin embellishing it in their head, making it more ornate. They add on the second story to their dream house - then add the tennis court and the turrets and the gargoyles.
Quote examples
Bjarke Ingels
Danish Architect
When I started studying architecture, people would say, you know, 'Can you tell me why are all modern buildings so boring?' Because, like, people had this idea that in the good old days, architecture had, like, ornament and little towers and spires and gargoyles, and today, it just becomes very practical.
Quote examples
Scott Derrickson
American Director
When I went to Europe a few years ago, I felt very at home there, and I loved standing in Notre Dame and looking at all the gargoyles on the outside of that building and realizing that, as scary and frightening as they were, what I was looking at was something that was built to the glory of God.
Quote examples
Diane Ackerman
American Poet
Even without seeing the crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas and katydids, we hear them shrilling in this season and trust that they're the tiny living gargoyles entomologists claim.
Quote examples
Rosamund Pike
British Actress
I decided to finish at Oxford because I looked up at the top of the buildings - the gargoyles and spires - and decided to stay.
Quote examples
Keith David
American Actor
And it has some weight, I mean, the whole history of the gargoyles, that's some wonderful stuff.
Example 1 of 7
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