Skyscrapers

/ˈskaɪskreɪpərz/ noun

Definition

Very tall buildings that seem to reach into the sky, especially found in modern cities.

Etymology

A compound word from 'sky' and 'scraper,' where 'scraper' refers to something that scrapes or reaches. First used in the late 1800s when buildings started getting tall enough to seem like they scraped the clouds.

Kelly Says

Americans invented the word 'skyscraper' when they invented the technology (steel frames and elevators) to build them—language and innovation grow together!

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