superstructure.

1. The part of a structure built above its foundations or supporting base.

2. The institutions and ideas that, in some social theories, rest on an underlying economic system.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• ship's superstructure
• bridge superstructure

On the page

The ship's superstructure emerged from the fog before its hull.

Usage notes

Primary category: architecture / spatial description. Forms: Singular superstructure; plural superstructures. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: setting, description. Commonness: uncommon.