Skyscraper

Meaning: A skyscraper is a very tall building with a large number of floors. The term was first used in the 1880s to describe tall steel-frame buildings in American cities like New York City and Chicago.

Pronunciation: /ˈskaɪˌskreɪpər/ (sky-SCRAY-per)

Morphology: Skyscraper is a compound word, formed by combining “sky” and “scraper.”

Interesting Fact: Skyscrapers are often seen as symbols of modernity and urban development, with innovative architectural designs that can reach astonishing heights.

Tips for Learning: To remember the word “skyscraper” more easily, visualize a tall building scraping the sky, or associate it with iconic skyscrapers like the Empire State Building.

Examples:

• Simple: The city skyline was dominated by towering skyscrapers.
• Medium: Many businesses rent office space in the top floors of skyscrapers.
• Complex: The construction of a new skyscraper in the downtown area was met with both excitement and controversy.

Synonyms: high-rise, tower, edifice

Antonyms: low-rise building, bungalow, cottage

Common Word Combinations: skyscraper architecture, iconic skyscraper, glass skyscraper

Mini-Task: Make a sentence using the word “skyscraper.”