rafters
n. plural-only C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹæftɝz// UK //ɹˈɑːftəz// rafters
n. the long pieces of wood or metal that support a roof. You can often see them if a building does not have a flat ceiling.
n. the sloping structural beams that extend from the ridge or hip of a roof to the wall plate, supporting the roof deck and its associated loads.
Dust and cobwebs covered the old wooden rafters.
The architect decided to leave the rafters exposed to give the living room a rustic, open feel.
During the renovation, workers discovered that several of the original oak rafters had been weakened by moisture, necessitating a complete structural reinforcement of the roof's timber frame.
Usage
Usually used in the plural; refers to the internal skeleton of a roof.