Basement vs. Stilt — What's the Difference?

A basement or cellar is one or more floors of a building that are completely or partly below the ground floor. It generally is used as a utility space for a building, where such items as the boiler, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system are located; so also are amenities such as the electrical distribution system and cable television distribution point.

Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates.

The floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level

Either of a pair of upright poles with supports for the feet enabling the user to walk at a distance above the ground.

The substructure or foundation of a building.

A long-billed wading bird with predominantly black and white plumage and very long slender reddish legs.

The lowest habitable story of a building, usually below ground level.

Either of a pair of long, slender poles each equipped with a raised footrest to enable the user to walk elevated above the ground.

A complex of undifferentiated igneous and metamorphic rocks underlying sedimentary strata.

Any of various tall posts or pillars used as support, as for a dock or building:a beach house on stilts.

(Slang) The last place or lowest level, as in competitive standings.

Any of several shorebirds of the widely distributed genus Himantopus or the Australian genus Cladorhynchus that have long pink legs, usually black-and-white plumage, and a long slender bill.

Chiefly New England A public toilet, especially one in a school.

To place or raise on stilts.

A floor of a building below ground level.

Either of two poles with footrests that allow someone to stand or walk above the ground; used mostly by entertainers.

(geology) A mass of igneous or metamorphic rock forming the foundation over which a platform of sedimentary rocks is laid.

A tall pillar or post used to support some structure; often above water.

Last place in a sports conference standings.

Any of various wading birds of the genera Himantopus and Cladorhynchus, related to the avocet, that have extremely long legs and long thin bills.

The lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

A crutch.

The ground floor facade or interior in Renaissance architecture

The handle of a plough.

To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts

To apply unnecessary pomp or formality

A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm.

A crutch; also, the handle of a plow.

Any species of limicoline birds belonging to Himantopus and allied genera, in which the legs are remarkably long and slender. Called also longshanks, stiltbird, stilt plover, and lawyer.

To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts.

A column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure

One of two stout poles with foot rests in the middle; used for walking high above the ground;

Long-legged three-toed wading bird of brackish marshes of Australia

Long-legged three-toed black-and-white wading bird of inland ponds and marshes or brackish lagoons