Editing Strut (section)

{{Short description|Structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2010}}
[[File:antonov an-2 ha-mkf at kemble arp.jpg|thumb|right|Struts on the [[Landing gear|undercarriage]], [[wing]]s and [[tailplane]] of an [[Antonov An-2]] [[biplane]]]]

A '''strut''' is a structural component commonly found in [[engineering]], [[aeronautics]], [[architecture]] and [[anatomy]]. Struts generally work by resisting longitudinal [[compression (physical)|compression]], but they may also serve in tension.

A '''stay''' is sometimes used as a synonym for strut,<ref>[https://thesaurus.plus/related/stay/strut Words Stay and Strut have similar meaning]</ref> but some sources distinguish that struts are braces for holding compressive forces apart, while stays are braces for keeping stretching forces together.<ref>[https://www.dictionary.net/strut Any part of a machine or structure, of which the principal function is to hold things apart; a brace subjected tocompressive stress; -- the opposite of stay, and tie. 
* 		To hold apart. Cf. Strut, n., 3. - New Age Dictionary Database By Oddity Software]</ref>