Vault (
French voûte, from
Italian volta) is an
architectural term for an
arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral
thrust that requires a counter
resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required. However, when the vault is built above ground, various replacements are employed to supply the needed resistance. An example is the thicker walls used in the case of
barrel or continuous vaults.
Buttresses are used to supply resistance when intersecting vaults are employed.