Definitions starting with m

• MEP engineering A company which designs mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in a structure.
• machine assembly A factory for the manufacture of complex mechanical objects which perform work.
• machine roomless elevator One or more gearless traction elevators where the lift mechanism fits entirely within the hoistway.
• machine structure Structures which operate as machines or as integral parts of mechanized processes.
• machinery service Facilities for maintenance and service of industrial machines and heavy-duty vehicles.
• machinery shell An enclosure for mechanical equipment with very limited if any human accessibility.
• machinery wholesaler A place where machinery is sold in bulk to clothing stores or to large commercial purchasers.
• magazine A topical publication which is printed on a periodical basis.
• magenta A bright purplish-pink color; one of the three subtractive primaries.
• maglev traffic A site or structure used as a route for magnetic levitation trains.
• mahogany A very dark shade of orange mixed with a bit of brown.
• mail chute A duct for dropping letters from the upper floors of a building to a mailbox below.
• mail distribution center A place for collection and distribution of mail between the sender and receiver.
• main address The primary mailing address of a property, or the numbered location of its main entrances.
• main contractor The leading construction company on a project.
• main contractor selected The lead contractor for a structure's construction is appointed by contract.
• main roof height The vertical elevation of the primary roofplate, not including small penthouses and turrets.
• main train station A major intercity train station with many platforms.
• maintenance Space used for heavy-duty non-retail maintenance, repair, and upkeep of products and facilities.
• maintenance Companies which provide regular upkeep or repair services.
• maintenance catwalks Elevated walkways providing access to otherwise inaccessible places.
• male restrooms Toilet facilities designated for use by men only.
• mandir A sacred place of worship in the Hindu faith.
• manganese mine A site where naturally occurring manganese ore is extracted from the earth.
• mannerist European architecture between Renaissance and Baroque with an emphasis on creative variation in a classical vocabulary.
• manufactured commodity storage Bulk storage facilities for homogeneous products created through fabrication processes.
• manufacturing Companies and organizations involved in producing supplies and assembled goods.
• manufacturing Space for mass production of goods using machinery.
• map An abstracted diagram of land features or built spaces, including floor plans.
• marble Flooring made of marble blocks or tiles.
• marble A brittle rock formed from calcite crystal and prized for its mottled patterns.
• marble quarry A site where metamorphic carbonate rock is extracted from the earth in large blocks or sheets.
• marbling Mixtures of different colors without clear format or shapes.
• marijuana dispensary Retail space specializing in cannabis and derived products for medical or recreational use.
• market A geographical area or segment of entities within an area which is commonly treated as a unit for economic analysis.
• market square An open paved area within a street system, traditionally used for open markets or large gatherings of people.
• marketing Companies and organizations associated with promotion and publicity.
• marketing agency A company which directs advertising and publicity programs.
• marketplace A space where multiple small vendors set up stalls to sell their wares separately.
• maroon Brick red; a dark, brownish shade of red.
• marquee A canopy projecting from a facade to display informative signage, especially on a theater.
• marsupial exhibit A zoo habitat for housing and displaying kangaroos, wombats, or other pouched mammals.
• martial arts Space for performances and competitions in traditional fighting arts.
• masonry A load-bearing frame composed of many small solid units stacked or piled on top of each other.
• masonry A load-bearing staircase frame built of bricks, rocks, or other hard pieces stacked and joined together.
• masonry A facade made of individual blocks stacked on top of each other.
• masonry chimney A building summit formed by a masonry-enclosed passage for steam, smoke, or other gas.
• masonry with steel A load-bearing frame in which steel beams or rebar and masonry are used together to counteract lateral forces.
• masonry with wood A load-bearing frame in which wood beams and masonry are used together to counteract lateral forces.
• mass Measurements of material amounts or weights.
• mass media Spaces used for the creation and broadcasting of recorded media.
• massage A location for professional services in which pressure and manipulation is applied to bodily tissues for well being and relaxation.
• mast A very narrow structure without interior space designed to hold something very high.
• mastaba A flat-topped construction of solid masonry with sloping sides.
• master plan architect A company which designs the basic plan for a large development, including general guidelines for buildings within it.
• master plan developer A company which organizes the overall development scheme for a multi-parcel site.
• mat foundation A foundation consisting of a very thick continuous concrete slab.
• mauve A very light shade of purple, between purple and white.
• maximum core-to-perimeter distance The maximum horizontal distance from the outer wall of a building's core to the inner wall of its perimeter.
• maximum floor overhang distance The maximum extent that a floorplate in an object overhangs the unenclosed space below it.
• maximum height reached The highest point on a structure is fixed in place during construction.
• maximum roof overhang distance The maximum extent that the roof of a structure overhangs the unenclosed space below it.
• maximum speed The highest speed allowed for transportation through a place or object.
• maximum vehicle weight The practical or allowed weight limit for vehicles entering a particular place or facility.
• mayan Architecture of the ancient Maya peoples, best known for large symmetrical stone pyramids and vaulted temples.
• mayan revival A twentieth century revival of classical Mayan stylistic features.
• meandering stairway Stairs which turn at or between levels but do not fold back in the same stairwell.
• measurement Direct ascertainment of data through careful scaling of the original object.
• measurement station A manned or automated site for taking in information or data.
• measurements Numerical expressions of an object's dimensions expressed in standard units.
• mechanical engineering A company which designs the systems that heat, cool, and ventilate a structure.
• mechanical feature Properties of a building's mechanical and infrastructural systems.
• mechanical floor A full floor level above ground filled with mechanical equipment and not generally accessible to occupants.
• mechanical penthouse A mechanical floor level at the top of a building which is set back from the building's perimeter.
• mechanical systems installation A contractor which installs multiple mechanical systems in a building.
• media room A commonly available room designated for screening films, videos, games, or television programs.
• media/technology store A retail outlet specializing in recorded media or consumer technology.
• medical administration Office space for the management of a hospital or other medical facility.
• medical clinic Doctor offices and treatment centers for outpatient care.
• medical heliport A site for take-offs and landings of emergency medical helicopters.
• medical school Classroom space for higher education in medical science and doctor training.
• medical testing Places designated for laboratory testing for medical purposes, usually not in the presence of patients.
• medieval norwegian Vernacular architecture of medieval Norway, typified by stave churches.
• meeting place A place designated for people to gather and associate for common purposes.
• memorial An object or site used to mark something in the past or otherwise intended for being commemorated.
• men's clothing store Retail space specializing in clothing for men and boys.
• menhir A rough-hewn or uncut rock planted upright in the ground.
• merged A company which has merged with another company into a new identity.
• metadata Terms which pertain to the organization of data, either visible or internal.
• metal Facade materials made from malleable mineral substances.
• metal A load-bearing frame composed of pure or alloyed metallic structural members.
• metal detectors at entry Apparatuses at the entrance which screen persons for metal objects being carried in.
• metal shingles Roofing made from small overlapping plates of sheet metal.
• metal storage Space for bulk storage of raw metals.
• metalworking A place where raw metals are shaped into usable products through manipulation.
• methodist church A house of worship in the Methodist faith.
• metro station A site where passengers regularly board and alight from subways, light rail, and rapid transit in an urban network.
• metropolitan area A population center comprising several cities in geographical proximity with close economic interaction.
• mexican fast food A fast food restaurant specializing in Mexican cuisine, where food is ordered and picked up at a counter.
• mexican restaurant A restaurant specializing in Mexican cuisine.
• mezzanine A floor level above ground which does not fill the entire space within the building's perimeter.
• microwave-relay phone transmission A site for transmission of telephone signals through the air by line-of-sight microwaves.
• middle eastern fast food A fast food restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine, where food is ordered and picked up at a counter.
• middle eastern restaurant A restaurant specializing in a cuisine of any part of the Middle East, including northern Africa.
• mileage marker The position of an object along a route which is officially measured in miles.
• military Spaces for training and exercises by the armed forces of any government.
• military aircraft hangar Enclosed space for storage and/or maintenance of aircraft used by military or governmental security forces.
• military housing Housing designated specifically for soldiers or officers in any military force.
• military office Administrative working space for military institutions.
• military recruitment center A place dedicated to attracting and enlisting personnel for military service.
• militia training Training and exercise space for internal security forces.
• milk storage Space for bulk storage of raw milk.
• millwork contractor A company which builds or installs the woodwork in a building.
• mineral flooring Flooring materials consisting of natural or aggregate earth or mineral substances.
• mineral mining A site where solid minerals other than gems are extracted from the earth in raw form for eventual use.
• mineral wool batts Thick flexible sheets or stuffed bags with a dense mass of fibers made from natural or synthetic minerals.
• mineral wool loose fill Loose fibers of mineral origin used as thermal insulation.
• mineral wool rigid panels Hard panels made of fibers derived from rock or slag.
• minigolf A compact golf course where players hit balls through creative obstacles into small holes.
• minimum core-to-perimeter distance The minimum horizontal distance from the outer wall of a building's core to the inner wall of its perimeter.
• minimum rentable area The smallest division of floor space available for rent or lease within a structure.
• minimum speed The lowest speed allowed for transportation through a place or object.
• mining Places where commodities and raw products are extracted from the ground.
• mint A pale shade of green or light green.
• missing floor A floor level which does not exist, and is skipped in a building's numbering system.
• mission house A space for provision of charity, especially food and clothing.
• mixed materials A roof-supporting framework made of more than one major component material.
• mixed materials A load-bearing frame composed of multiple materials acting together to provide structural support.
• mixed sports A venue designed to hold a wide variety of sporting activities.
• mixed-use building A large building with multiple primary uses in completely different categories.
• modern Architecture from the mid-20th century onwards, with simple forms suited to mass production of building materials.
• modern style Architectural styles of the present era which derive their aesthetic from the practical and functional qualities of buildings.
• modular space manufacturer A company that makes modular units, e.g. shipping containers, used in buildings of modular construction.
• module Any part of a structure which is treated separately in order to assign specific data or object relations to it.
• monastery Group housing for members of a cloistered religious order.
• monastery chapel A house of worship that belongs to a monastery or other religious community, and is not a parish church.
• mongolian barbecue An Asian-type restaurant where customers mix their own ingredients for cooking on a griddle.
• monolith A simple upright shaft with the appearance of a solid mass.
• monorail station A site where passengers board and alight from single-rail trains.
• monorail traffic A site or structure used as a route for single-rail trains.
• monument Decorative or symbolic structures which generally have some referential meaning for the local place or population.
• monumental building A building with oversized interior spaces or with very high appendages that do not contain regular floors.
• mooring A bond between a floating structure and a fixed point.
• moorish revival A romantic revival of Mudéjar or classical Moorish architecture of Spain and North Africa.
• mormon temple A house of prayer and worship in the Mormon faith.
• moroccan restaurant A restaurant specializing in Moroccan cuisine.
• mortgage bank A bank which specializes in making direct mortgage loans to customers.
• mosaic Flooring composed of many small pieces of colored stone in a decorative pattern.
• mosaic on facade A tiled artwork or decorative design covering a significant portion of the exterior.
• mosque A house of worship built for Islamic prayers and services.
• mosque A dedicated place of worship for the Islamic faith.
• motel A hotel space for motorists where individual rooms are accessed from outdoors.
• motion ride Places where people experience thrilling or pleasurable motion, either as a ride or simulation.
• motocross A place for motorcycle racing on an off-road circuit with obstacles.
• motorbike rental A place where motorcycles or other motorized cycles can be rented.
• motorcycle parking A place designated for temporary storage of motorcycles when not in use.
• motorcycle track racing A venue for racing motorized cycles on a smooth track.
• mound A construction formed by piling loose material such as rocks or earth.
• movable bridge A bridge of any form which is capable of controlled movement in order to lift or remove its span.
• movable sunshades Movable elements in front of a facade which limit the amount of sunlight entering windows.
• movable wall A full-height internal or external partition whose position can be easily shifted.
• movie studio A site designated for the production of motion pictures.
• mughal Architecture of South-Central Asia from the Mughal reign blending Indian and Islamic features, often with domes and profusions of arches.
• multi-level porch A series of outdoor platforms attached to a building and connected vertically by stairs.
• multi-lit A window which is subdivided into many small rectangular panes.
• multi-tenant design Built space intended for more than one occupants, with provisions for both common and private areas.
• multi-use sports Space designated for more than one sport or athletic usage.
• multi-winged A floor plan with various wings connected to a spine and forming courtyards.
• multicolor Composed of a wide assortment of different colors.
• multilegged water tower A tank of liquid supported at the sides or corners by multiple legs.
• municipal police station A base office for a city or village police department.
• mural on facade A painted artwork covering a significant portion of the exterior.
• museum Space for collecting and displaying valuable artifacts and/or educational exhibits.
• mushroom cultivation Areas for growing and harvesting any kind of edible fungus for food.
• music club A lounge where people go to hear music.
• music rehearsal space A place designated for practicing and rehearsing musical performances.
• music school Classroom space for training in musical arts and performance.
• musical instrument store Retail space specializing in any kind or types of musical instruments.
• musical theater A performance space used mainly for musical plays.
• myrtle An extremely dark, almost blackish, shade of green.

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