scaffolding

[ skaf-uhl-ding, -ohl- ]

noun

1. 1. a system of temporary structures having platforms to support workers and materials during the construction, repair, or decoration of a building:

      The scaffolding on the cathedral is finally coming down, and the workers can move on.

   2. materials for building such structures:

      We sell aluminum scaffolding to clients all over the country.

   3. the act or process of building such structures:

      During the scaffolding of the building complex, a specially designed lift carried all the pieces to their places.

2. Education.
   1. a method of instruction in which the learner is provided with gradually reduced support in the application of a new skill until they can demonstrate it independently: the mastered skill then provides the basis for acquiring the next new skill in a similar way:

      Through careful scaffolding, my students learned to persevere and use a range of strategies to solve math problems.

   2. the preparation or design of learning materials for use with this method:

      This grading approach requires the careful and strategic scaffolding of lesson plans and assignments.

3. anything that forms a support or basis for something else:

   The general framework of subtasks provides a scaffolding for the more complex computational tasks.

adjective

1. relating to or involving raised platforms or their construction:

   A variety of different scaffolding materials are available for your building project.

   The fair is aimed at reps from companies that regularly hire scaffolding contractors.

2. Education. relating to, involving, or intended for a method of teaching skills by giving the learner gradually reduced support in applying a new skill until they can demonstrate it independently, after which it becomes the basis for learning the next skill:

   Some scaffolding exercises were given to students to strengthen their understanding.

scaffolding

/ ˈskæfəldɪŋ /

noun

1. a scaffold or system of scaffolds
2. the building materials used to make scaffolds

Word History and Origins

Origin of scaffolding¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English skaf(f)aldyng; equivalent to scaffold + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Today the church is wrapped in scaffolding and metal ribbons are holding its façade in place until someone pays to repair it.

From The Daily Beast

“As you all know, we had a scaffolding incident here at One World Trade Center,” he now said.

From The Daily Beast

Davis requires a sound scaffolding of fact and proof for his enthusiasms.

From The Daily Beast

Even when a skeleton displays no evidence of disability, it might have been the scaffolding for an unhealthy body.

From The Daily Beast

She was walking down the scaffolding, with all the lights in front of her.

From The Daily Beast

And the sawn planks come from Russia and the Baltic, and the larches for scaffolding from the Merionethshire valleys.

From Project Gutenberg

So they set to work and made a tower of scaffolding with ropes, with timbers, with spars saved from their ships.

From Project Gutenberg

For the rest, figures are but the scaffolding, the method, and do not exist in Nature.

From Project Gutenberg

He stopped, leaning against scaffolding as he saw a familiar figure turn toward him.

From Project Gutenberg

The Priory is all scaffolding and paint; and we are still in a nightmare of uncertainty about our boys.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• scaffold
• stage