SKIP TO CONTENT

artefact

Definitions of artefact
  1. noun
    a man-made object taken as a whole
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    objet naturel
    an object occurring naturally; not made by man
    examples:
    big ben
    clock in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, London
    zeppelin
    a large rigid dirigible designed to carry passengers or bombs
    types:
    article
    one of a class of artifacts
    antiquité
    an artifact surviving from the past
    bloc
    a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
    marchandise
    articles of commerce
    housse
    an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)
    création
    an artifact that has been brought into existence by someone
    décoration, ornement
    something used to beautify
    fissure, trou
    a hole in the ground made by excavating
    extra, figurant
    something additional of the same kind
    textile, tissu, étoffe
    artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
    installation
    a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry
    aménagement, appareil fixe, installation
    an object firmly fixed in place (especially in a household)
    bouchon, flotteur
    something that floats on the surface of water
    instrumentation
    an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in accomplishing some end
    couche
    single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
    ligne
    something (as a cord or rope) that is long and thin and flexible
    marqueur
    some conspicuous object used to distinguish or mark something
    ouverture, trou
    a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made
    rembourrage
    artifact consisting of soft or resilient material used to fill or give shape or protect or add comfort
    jouet
    an artifact designed to be played with
    drap
    a flat artifact that is thin relative to its length and width
    boule, sphère
    any spherically shaped artifact
    bande
    artifact consisting of a narrow flat piece of material
    construction
    a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
    surface
    the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
    chose
    an artifact
    voie
    a pair of parallel rails providing a runway for wheels
    chemin, passage
    any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another
    poids
    an artifact that is heavy
    matériaux
    material used for constructing buildings
    matériau de pavage, pavé
    material used to pave an area
    accés
    a way of entering or leaving
    acrylique
    a synthetic fabric
    bordure, décoration, ornement
    a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness
    hangar
    a large structure at an airport where aircraft can be stored and maintained
    aérodrome
    a place where planes take off and land
    ouverture
    an man-made opening; usually small
    arcade
    a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns
    arc
    (architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it
    ornement architectural
    (architecture) something added to a building to improve its appearance
    aire
    a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function
    oeuvre d'art
    the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
    facilité athlétique
    a facility for athletic events
    appui, soutien
    something forming a back that is added for strengthening
    balcon
    a platform projecting from the wall of a building and surrounded by a balustrade or railing or parapet
    balcon
    an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium
    boule, pelote, éminence
    a spherical object used as a plaything
    bande
    a thin flat strip of flexible material that is worn around the body or one of the limbs (especially to decorate the body)
    cloche
    the flared opening of a tubular device
    ardoise, tableau noir
    sheet of slate; for writing with chalk
    couche
    a layer of lead surrounding the highly reactive core of a nuclear reactor
    planche
    a flat piece of material designed for a special purpose
    damier, échiquier
    a flat portable surface (usually rectangular) designed for board games
    planchéiage
    a structure of boards
    carrosserie
    the external structure of a vehicle
    signet
    a marker (a piece of paper or ribbon) placed between the pages of a book to mark the reader's place
    brique
    rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
    pont
    a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
    bâtiment, construction, édifice
    a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
    bloc de construction
    a block of material used in construction work
    complexe, complexe immobilier
    a whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structures
    pain
    a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
    céramique
    an artifact made of hard brittle material produced from nonmetallic minerals by firing at high temperatures
    cale
    a block of wood used to prevent the sliding or rolling of a heavy object
    couverture en toile
    a covering made of cloth
    vêtements
    a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
    couche
    a thin layer covering something
    couche de couverture
    a heavy fabric suitable for coats
    noeud
    a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
    colonne
    a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)
    système de communication
    facility consisting of the physical plants and equipment for disseminating information
    composition
    something that is created by arranging several things to form a unified whole
    connexion, lien
    an instrumentality that connects
    biens de consommation
    goods (as food or clothing) intended for direct use or consumption
    container
    any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another)
    moyen de transport, véhicule
    something that serves as a means of transportation
    corde, cordon
    a line made of twisted fibers or threads
    velours
    a cut pile fabric with vertical ribs; usually made of cotton
    balance
    a weight that balances another weight
    piste
    facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport
    rangée
    (construction) a layer of masonry
    crampon
    a strip of metal with ends bent at right angles; used to hold masonry together
    crêpe
    a soft thin light fabric with a crinkled surface
    cube
    a block in the (approximate) shape of a cube
    coussin
    a soft bag filled with air or a mass of padding such as feathers or foam rubber etc.
    défense
    a structure used to defend against attack
    dépôt
    a facility where things can be deposited for storage or safekeeping
    dessin, motif, travail artistique
    a decorative or artistic work
    appareil, outil
    an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
    fossé
    a long narrow excavation in the earth
    poupée
    a small replica of a person; used as a toy
    articles
    textiles or clothing and related merchandise
    duffle-coat
    a coarse heavy woolen fabric
    ornement, parure
    a superfluous ornament
    nouveau produit
    a commodity that enters competition with established merchandise
    appareillage, matériel, équipement
    an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service
    établissement
    a public or private structure (business or governmental or educational) including buildings and equipment for business or residence
    issue, sortie
    an opening that permits escape or release
    fibre
    a leatherlike material made by compressing layers of paper or cloth
    film
    a thin sheet of (usually plastic and usually transparent) material used to wrap or cover things
    principal
    the chief one of a related group
    molleton, pilou, veloutine
    a cotton fabric imitating flannel
    oreillette, protège-oreilles
    any broad thin and limber covering attached at one edge; hangs loose or projects freely
    étage
    a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale
    revêtement de sol
    a covering for a floor
    arrangement de fleurs
    a decorative arrangement of flowers
    boutonnage, braguette
    an opening in a garment that is closed by a zipper or by buttons concealed under a fold of cloth
    chemise, classeur, dossier
    covering that is folded over to protect the contents
    artifice
    ornamental objects of no great value
    chaussure, escarpin, mocassin
    covering for a person's feet
    lieu de rencontre, point de rencontre, salle de réunion
    a public facility to meet for open discussion
    meubles
    (usually plural) the instrumentalities (furniture and appliances and other movable accessories including curtains and rugs) that make a home (or other area) livable
    entrebaillement, lacune
    a narrow opening
    globe
    a sphere on which a map (especially of the earth) is represented
    tableau, toile
    (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting
    bouche, gueule
    the open circular discharging end of a gun
    tapisserie
    decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
    cheval à bascule
    a child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride
    trou
    an opening deliberately made in or through something
    niveau, surface horizontal
    a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line
    logement, logis, pension
    structures collectively in which people are housed
    instrument, outil
    instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
    incrustation
    a decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared slots in a surface
    intercouche
    a layer placed between other layers
    pantin
    plaything consisting of a toy figure with movable joints that can be made to dance by pulling strings
    babiole, bricole, machin, truc
    a small inexpensive mass-produced article
    tricot
    a fabric made by knitting
    dentelle
    a delicate decorative fabric woven in an open web of symmetrical patterns
    stratifié
    a sheet of material made by bonding two or more sheets or layers
    débarcadère
    structure providing a place where boats can land people or goods
    voie
    a narrow way or road
    cuir artificiel, skaï
    fabric made to look like leather
    bouée de sauvetage, ceinture de sauvetage, gilet de sauvetage
    rescue equipment consisting of a buoyant belt or jacket to keep a person from drowning
    lampe fixe
    a fixture providing artificial light
    cargaison, charge, fardeau, poids
    weight to be borne or conveyed
    imperméable
    a lightweight waterproof (usually rubberized) fabric
    masque
    a covering to disguise or conceal the face
    copie originale
    an original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
    moyen, méthode
    an instrumentality for accomplishing some end
    monument funéraire, mémorial
    a structure erected to commemorate persons or events
    aquarium, jardin zoologique, réserve zoologique, terrarium, vivarium
    the facility where wild animals are housed for exhibition
    marchandise, marchandises
    commodities offered for sale
    installation militaire
    any facility servicing military forces
    mine
    excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
    mohair
    fabric made with yarn made from the silky hair of the Angora goat
    huisserie
    a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing
    butte, monticule, tertre
    structure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones
    col
    an opening in a garment for the neck of the wearer; a part of the garment near the wearer's neck
    travail d'aiguille
    a creation created or assembled by needle and thread
    filet
    an open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals
    mercerie
    (usually plural) small personal articles or clothing or sewing items
    encombrement, entrave, obstacle
    any structure that makes progress difficult
    rembourrage
    a flat mass of soft material used for protection, stuffing, or comfort
    tampon encreur, tampon à timbrer
    a block of absorbent material saturated with ink; used to transfer ink evenly to a rubber stamp
    panneau
    sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
    cloison, mur de refend
    a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)
    passage
    a way through or along which someone or something may pass
    voie
    a way especially designed for a particular use
    chiffon
    a separate part consisting of fabric
    cachet, pilule
    something that resembles a tablet of medicine in shape or size
    carrière, carrière de pierre
    a surface excavation for extracting stone or slate
    plaque
    a sheet of metal or wood or glass or plastic
    vitre
    glass formed into large thin sheets
    plate-forme
    any military structure or vehicle bearing weapons
    plomberie
    a fixture for the distribution and use of water in a building
    épaisseur
    (usually in combinations) one of several layers of cloth or paper or wood as in plywood
    bassin
    an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
    porche, véranda
    a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
    réseau de quadrillage
    a system of high tension cables by which electrical power is distributed throughout a region
    production, produit
    an artifact that has been created by someone or some process
    saillie
    any structure that branches out from a central support
    abri, protection
    a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury
    commodités, toilettes publiques
    a toilet that is available to the public
    chemin de fer
    a line of track providing a runway for wheels
    champ de tir, stand de tir
    a place for shooting (firing or driving) projectiles of various kinds
    rayonne
    a synthetic silklike fabric
    représentation
    a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something
    bande
    a long strip of inked material for making characters on paper with a typewriter
    chemin, route
    an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
    cave, cave viticole
    an excavation where root vegetables are stored
    corde
    a strong line
    bâche, housse
    a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something
    écran, écran de projection
    a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
    tôle
    sheet of metal formed into a thin plate
    abri, abri souterrain
    a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
    côté
    an extended outer surface of an object
    enseigne, panonceau
    structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
    plaque, tablette
    block consisting of a thick piece of something
    fronde, lance-pierres
    a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones
    fente
    a long narrow opening
    porte-savon
    a bathroom or kitchen fixture for holding a bar of soap
    canal
    a facility where something is available
    bec
    an opening that allows the passage of liquids or grain
    stade
    a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
    escabeau, escalier, échelle
    a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
    ressource, réserve
    something that can be relied on when needed
    station
    a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
    pierre de taille
    building material consisting of a piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose
    brin, toron
    line consisting of a complex of fibers or filaments that are twisted together to form a thread or a rope or a cable
    bourre
    padding put in mattresses and cushions and upholstered furniture
    structure portante
    a structure that serves to support something
    balançoire
    mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
    système
    instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
    bande
    a long thin piece of cloth or paper as used for binding or fastening
    plaid
    a cloth having a crisscross design
    ours en peluche
    plaything consisting of a child's toy bear (usually plush and stuffed with soft materials)
    tissu éponge
    a pile fabric (usually cotton) with uncut loops on both sides; used to make bath towels and bath robes
    rangée, étage
    one of two or more layers one atop another
    articles de toilette
    artifacts used in making your toilet (washing and taking care of your body)
    couvercle
    covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container)
    toupie
    a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin
    tissu éponge
    any of various fabrics (linen or cotton) used to make towels
    clocher, tour
    a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
    attelage
    either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree
    rail du tramway, voie du tramway
    the track on which trams or streetcars run
    caractère
    a small metal block bearing a raised character on one end; produces a printed character when inked and pressed on paper
    tissu d'ameublement
    covering (padding and springs and webbing and fabric) on a piece of furniture
    articles consommation courante, articles utilitaires
    a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal
    changement
    an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard
    velours, velours de coton
    heavy fabric that resembles velvet
    article, produit
    articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: `silverware', `software'
    alimentation en eau potable, distribution des eaux
    a facility that provides a source of water
    armement, armes, matériel de guerre
    weapons considered collectively
    tissu, toile
    a fabric (especially a fabric in the process of being woven)
    puits
    a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
    guichet
    small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted
    vitre
    a transparent opening in a vehicle that allow vision out of the sides or back; usually is capable of being opened
    vibreur
    something that wobbles
    surface de travail
    a horizontal surface for supporting objects used in working or playing games
    emballage
    the covering (usually paper or cellophane) in which something is wrapped
    moyen
    a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
    garniture
    something (such as parsley) added to a dish for flavor or decoration
    équilibre
    equality of distribution
    béton
    a strong hard building material composed of sand and gravel and cement and water
    matériau recouvrement, revêtement
    a material used by builders to cover surfaces
    isolant, matériau isolant
    a material that reduces or prevents the transmission of heat or sound or electricity
    bois de charpente
    the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
    mortier
    used as a bond in masonry or for covering a wall
    matériaux de couverture
    building material used in constructing roofs
    type of:
    ensemble, tout
    an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘artefact'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family