ARE 5.0 Practice Management -
Brightwood Glossary Exam Q&A 100%
Pass
abutment - ✔✔A buttressing or supporting structure.
acoustics - ✔✔The branch of physics that deals with sound. In architectural
application, the sound qualities of a room or space.
acropolis - ✔✔In an ancient Greek city, a citadel, usually on a high plateau.
addenda - ✔✔Statements or drawings that modify the basic contract
documents after the latter have been issued to the bidders, but prior to taking
of bids.
addition (to the contract sum) - ✔✔An amount added to the contract sum either
by an accepted additive alternate or by a change order.
adobe - ✔✔A sun-dried brick of earth, used in the American Southwest.
advertisement for bids - ✔✔Published public notice soliciting proposals for a
construction project.
aesthetics - ✔✔The branch of philosophy that deals with the quality, aspects,
and perception of beauty.
agent - ✔✔one who acts on behalf of another.
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©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,air rights - ✔✔The rights to the use or control of space above a property, such as
highways, railroad tracks, or buildings.
albedo - ✔✔Reflectivity measured as the relative permeability of a surface to
radiant energy flowing in either direction.
alignment - ✔✔Horizontal or vertical deviation from the straight or level
centerline of the road.
alternate bid - ✔✔Proposal by a bidder for an amount to be subtracted from, or
added to, the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - ✔✔Federal civil rights legislation that
establishes the right of persons with disabilities to equal access to sites and
buildings and sets design guidelines for its implementation.
amphitheater - ✔✔An arena encircled by tiers of seats.
annunciator - ✔✔An electromagnetic device that indicates the activation of
certain circuits; a device to signal the existence and location of a fire in a
building.
application for payment - ✔✔A contractor's written request for payment of the
amount due on account of work completed and/or materials suitably stored on
the site. Also called payment request.
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©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,approved equal - ✔✔Material or method that is approved by the architect as
being equivalent to what was originally specified.
apse - ✔✔The eastern or alter end of a church, usually semicircular in plan.
arbitration - ✔✔An alternative to litigating a dispute, in which one or more
arbitrators hears the evidence and renders a decision.
ashlar - ✔✔Masonry having a face of square or rectangular stones.
azulejo - ✔✔a glazed decorative tile with the color blue most prominent.
backfill - ✔✔Earth or other fill material placed between an outside foundation
wall and the excavation.
baffle - ✔✔A partial obstruction against flow in a duct or pipe.
balance - ✔✔The proportioning of components by offsetting or contrasting so as
to produce an aesthetic equilibrium in the whole.
Baroque - ✔✔A style of European architecture developed in the late
Renaissance in reaction to classical forms, containing elaborate curves, scrolls,
and ornament.
barrier-free provisions - ✔✔Regulations which provide for accessibility to
buildings and sites for persons with disabilities.
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©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, base bid - ✔✔The sum of money stated in the bid for which the bidder offers to
do the work, not including any alternate bids.
base lines - ✔✔East-west lines from which townships are established on
government surveys. They run perpendicular to meridian lines.
basic services - ✔✔The architectural services normally required for a building
project, usually consisting of schematic design, design development,
construction documents, bidding or negotiation, and construction contract
administration.
bat - ✔✔A part, usually half, of a broken brick; also a unit of flat insulation.
batten - ✔✔A cleat-like member placed across a series of boards to tie them
together; also, a narrow strip covering the joint joint between two vertical
boards.
belvedere - ✔✔A roofed structure or pavilion located to command a view.
bench - ✔✔An excavated, level terrace in a slope used to collect running water.
benchmark - ✔✔A relatively permanent surveyor's mark of known location and
elevation.
berm - ✔✔A bank of earth, often piled up against a wall.
Page 4 of 37
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
Brightwood Glossary Exam Q&A 100%
Pass
abutment - ✔✔A buttressing or supporting structure.
acoustics - ✔✔The branch of physics that deals with sound. In architectural
application, the sound qualities of a room or space.
acropolis - ✔✔In an ancient Greek city, a citadel, usually on a high plateau.
addenda - ✔✔Statements or drawings that modify the basic contract
documents after the latter have been issued to the bidders, but prior to taking
of bids.
addition (to the contract sum) - ✔✔An amount added to the contract sum either
by an accepted additive alternate or by a change order.
adobe - ✔✔A sun-dried brick of earth, used in the American Southwest.
advertisement for bids - ✔✔Published public notice soliciting proposals for a
construction project.
aesthetics - ✔✔The branch of philosophy that deals with the quality, aspects,
and perception of beauty.
agent - ✔✔one who acts on behalf of another.
Page 1 of 37
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,air rights - ✔✔The rights to the use or control of space above a property, such as
highways, railroad tracks, or buildings.
albedo - ✔✔Reflectivity measured as the relative permeability of a surface to
radiant energy flowing in either direction.
alignment - ✔✔Horizontal or vertical deviation from the straight or level
centerline of the road.
alternate bid - ✔✔Proposal by a bidder for an amount to be subtracted from, or
added to, the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - ✔✔Federal civil rights legislation that
establishes the right of persons with disabilities to equal access to sites and
buildings and sets design guidelines for its implementation.
amphitheater - ✔✔An arena encircled by tiers of seats.
annunciator - ✔✔An electromagnetic device that indicates the activation of
certain circuits; a device to signal the existence and location of a fire in a
building.
application for payment - ✔✔A contractor's written request for payment of the
amount due on account of work completed and/or materials suitably stored on
the site. Also called payment request.
Page 2 of 37
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,approved equal - ✔✔Material or method that is approved by the architect as
being equivalent to what was originally specified.
apse - ✔✔The eastern or alter end of a church, usually semicircular in plan.
arbitration - ✔✔An alternative to litigating a dispute, in which one or more
arbitrators hears the evidence and renders a decision.
ashlar - ✔✔Masonry having a face of square or rectangular stones.
azulejo - ✔✔a glazed decorative tile with the color blue most prominent.
backfill - ✔✔Earth or other fill material placed between an outside foundation
wall and the excavation.
baffle - ✔✔A partial obstruction against flow in a duct or pipe.
balance - ✔✔The proportioning of components by offsetting or contrasting so as
to produce an aesthetic equilibrium in the whole.
Baroque - ✔✔A style of European architecture developed in the late
Renaissance in reaction to classical forms, containing elaborate curves, scrolls,
and ornament.
barrier-free provisions - ✔✔Regulations which provide for accessibility to
buildings and sites for persons with disabilities.
Page 3 of 37
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, base bid - ✔✔The sum of money stated in the bid for which the bidder offers to
do the work, not including any alternate bids.
base lines - ✔✔East-west lines from which townships are established on
government surveys. They run perpendicular to meridian lines.
basic services - ✔✔The architectural services normally required for a building
project, usually consisting of schematic design, design development,
construction documents, bidding or negotiation, and construction contract
administration.
bat - ✔✔A part, usually half, of a broken brick; also a unit of flat insulation.
batten - ✔✔A cleat-like member placed across a series of boards to tie them
together; also, a narrow strip covering the joint joint between two vertical
boards.
belvedere - ✔✔A roofed structure or pavilion located to command a view.
bench - ✔✔An excavated, level terrace in a slope used to collect running water.
benchmark - ✔✔A relatively permanent surveyor's mark of known location and
elevation.
berm - ✔✔A bank of earth, often piled up against a wall.
Page 4 of 37
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
