# siding

/ˈsaɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈaɪdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/siding
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. building material

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the material used to cover the outside walls of a house to protect it from the weather.

For teachers: protective material, such as wood, vinyl, or metal, applied to the exterior walls of a frame building.

- The storm damaged the vinyl siding on the north side of the house.
- The homeowners decided to replace the rotting cedar siding with a more durable fibre-cement alternative to reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the material generally; countable when referring to a specific type.

### 2. railway track

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short section of track next to a main railway line used for parking or passing trains.

For teachers: a short track connected to a main railway line, used for shunting, storing rolling stock, or allowing trains to pass.

- The freight train waited on a siding to let the fast passenger train go past.
- The locomotive was diverted onto a siding to allow the express service to maintain its schedule without interruption.

### 3. supporting a side

verb · CEFR B2

the act of supporting one person or group in an argument.

For teachers: the present participle of 'side'; used when choosing to support one party in a dispute.

- By siding with his sister, he made the argument even worse.
- The senator faced significant criticism from his own party for siding with the opposition on the controversial environmental bill.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- The workers are installing new vinyl siding on our house today.
- After the severe hailstorm, the homeowners had to replace the damaged siding on the north side of their property.
- Modern architectural designs often combine traditional cedar siding with industrial steel accents to create a visual contrast that emphasizes the building's geometric form.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.