Forum: ell.stackexchange.com
Tags: <word-usage><word-choice>
Title: What does strut mean?
Question: What does strut mean? Where I can apply the word?  I need to know what you call the things in the picture and what strut means. Are those struts in the picture?

Answers:
sents: text: I might call these the legs of the board or whatever the object is called.
text: The stand would be the entire standing apparatus, perhaps, but certainly "the legs" is the best way.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/88288/user45266
score: 17
sents: text: I think the strut is actually the horizontal metal strip between the two sides of the board.
text: It keeps the two sides from pressing back together.
text: A strut is a structural piece designed to resist pressure in the direction of its length.
text: It seems there is some debate if the piece I refer to is 100% technically a strut--I have always heard it referred to that way, and believe that in colloquial usage it would be an appropriate word.
text: But it seems if you're writing for a technical description, it may not be appropriate.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/86006/Katy
score: 16
sents: text: The picture shows a board in a frame and this is attached to an A-frame structure.
text: A-frame structures for this usage (holding up a board) have legs.
text: struts are not relevant here.
text: Struts are cross-beams, therefore, usually horizontal, used in the construction industry to strengthen vertical loads and also on guitar necks
text: to so different notes can be played.
text: On guitars, struts are vertical.
text: Struts can also be found in certain pieces of furniture where they reinforce some structure.
text: For examples, some beds have a frame made of wood with cross pieces called struts where a mattress is placed.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/33113/Lambie
score: 6
sents: text: The engineering definition of a "strut" is simply a component which has a compressive force acting along its length.
text: That definition certainly applies to the parts of your frame marked with the arrows.
text: In contrast, it does NOT apply to the horizontal links between the two boards, which are in tension not compression.
text: An engineer would call those parts "ties".
text: However, non-engineers would describe the arrowed parts as "legs," not "struts," just like the "legs" of a chair or a table.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/19004/alephzero
score: 6
sents: text: In common non-engineering American English, the main familiar usage for this meaning of strut is as part of the suspension in cars, since they need service/replacement from time to time.
text: Keep in mind strut , as a noun or verb, can also be used for a particular way of walking, and this meaning is probably more familiar.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/6186/R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
A  strut  is a structural piece designed to resist pressure in the direction of its length.   They are used to reinforce and strengthen, and are usually subject to compression. They may also be referred to as legs or cross-beams, depending on the context.
A strut is a component with compressive force acting along its length, so the vertical pieces could be considered struts. However, they would usually be called legs by non-engineers. While struts are often not horizontal, the metal strips in the picture are under tension and would be called 'ties'.