# skyscraper

/ˈskaɪsˌkɹeɪpɝ/ (US) · /skˈaɪskɹeɪpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/skyscraper
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. tall building

noun · CEFR B1

a very tall building with many floors, often found in the center of a city.

For teachers: a continuously habitable building of exceptional height, typically exceeding 40 or 50 stories.

- The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest skyscraper in the world.
- Modern skyscrapers often utilize advanced glass facades and structural damping systems to withstand high winds at extreme altitudes.

### 2. nautical sail

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a small, high sail used on old ships.

For teachers: a light, triangular sail set above the skysail on a square-rigged ship.

- The old ship carried a skyscraper sail to catch the light winds high above the deck.
- In the era of the great tea clippers, a skyscraper was occasionally deployed above the royal masts to maximize speed in calm waters.

### 3. anything very tall

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a word for anything that is very high or tall.

For teachers: a figurative term for any object or person of extraordinary height.

- The giant oak tree was a natural skyscraper in the middle of the forest.
- Standing nearly seven feet tall, the athlete was a skyscraper among his teammates.

## Examples

- The new skyscraper dominates the city skyline.
- Architects designed the skyscraper with a reinforced core to withstand the high winds found at such altitudes.
- The construction of the first steel-framed skyscraper in Chicago revolutionised urban planning, allowing for unprecedented population density within the city's commercial district.

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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.