| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Tatami | Tatami – A straw mat covered with woven rush, approximately 6’ x 3’, used as flooring material. |
| Tenon | Tenon – The projecting member of a piece of wood, which is inserted into a mortise to create a secure joint. |
| Terra Cotta | Terra Cotta – Low-fired ceramic ware that is often reddish and unglazed. |
| Terra Sigillata | Terra Sigillata – A thin coating of colored clay or clays applied with a glaze. A terra sigillata solution is composed of fine particles of decanted clay and water. |
| Terrazzo | Terrazzo – A floor or wall finish made by setting marble or other stone chips into a layer of mortar and polishing the surface. |
| Texture (fabric) | Texture (fabric) – In fabric, is the surface quality of a material. |
| Texture (stone) | Texture (stone) – In stone, texture is the characteristics of a rock given by the size and shape of its grains. |
| Tile | Tile – Small, flat finishing units made of clay or clay mixtures. |
| Timber | Timber- Wood suitable for construction or a finish carpentry. |
| Tongue-and-groove | Tongue-and-groove – A tight joint created by fitting together a tongue on one end of a board with a groove on the other end. Common for floors, paneling, and wainscoting. |
| Tread | Tread – The flat surface of a stair. |
| Treenail | Treenail – A wooden peg made from dry compressed timber, made to swell when placed in its hold and moistened. |
| Triptych | Triptych – A three-paneled artwork. Historically, triptychs were hinged together so that the two side wings closed over the central panel. |
| Trompe L’Oeil | Trompe L’Oeil – Literally, “fool the eye.” (French). An object or scene rendered so realistically that the viewer believes he or she is seeing the real thing. |
| Trumeau | Trumeau – The stone mullion supporting the middle of a tympanum of a doorway. |
| Truss | Truss – An assembly of members combined to form a rigid framework, interconnected to form triangles. |
| Tufting | Tufting – A process in which the pile yarn is punched through the backing with rows of needles, much like the method employed by a sewing machine. |
| Tuscan | Tuscan – A plain and unfluted column, the Tuscan is the simplest of the architectural orders. |