dome

American  

[dohm] / doʊm /

noun

1. Architecture.

   1. a vault, having a circular plan and usually in the form of a portion of a sphere, so constructed as to exert an equal thrust in all directions.

   2. a domical roof or ceiling.

   3. a polygonal vault, ceiling, or roof.

2. any covering thought to resemble the hemispherical vault of a building or room.

   the great dome of the sky.

3. anything shaped like a hemisphere or inverted bowl.

4. (in a dam) a semidome having its convex surface toward the impounded water.

5. Crystallography. a form having planes that intersect the vertical axis and are parallel to one of the lateral axes.

6. Geology. upwarp.

7. Also called vistadome.  Railroads. a raised, glass-enclosed section of the roof of a passenger car, placed over an elevated section of seats to afford passengers a full view of scenery.

8. Horology. an inner cover for the works of a watch, which snaps into the rim of the case.

9. a mountain peak having a rounded summit.

10. Slang. a person's head.

    I wish I could get the idea into that thick dome of yours.

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verb (used with object)

domes, present (3rd person singular) domed, past participle, past doming present participle

1. to cover with or as if with a dome.

2. to shape like a dome.

verb (used without object)

domes, present (3rd person singular) domed, past participle, past doming present participle

1. to rise or swell as a dome.

dome British  

/ dəʊm, ˈdəʊmɪkəl, ˈdɒm- /

noun

1. a hemispherical roof or vault or a structure of similar form

2. something shaped like this

3. crystallog a crystal form in which two planes intersect along an edge parallel to a lateral axis

4. a slang word for the head

5. geology

   1. a structure in which rock layers slope away in all directions from a central point

   2. another name for pericline

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verb

1. to cover with or as if with a dome

2. to shape like a dome

dome Scientific  

/ dōm /

1. A circular or elliptical area of uplifted rock in which the rock dips gently away, in all directions, from a central point.

2. A wedge-shaped mineral crystal that has two nonparallel, similarly inclined faces that intersect along a plane of symmetry.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• domical
  adjective
• domelike
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has domed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have domed
  perfect
• has been doming
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been doming
  perfect progressive
• is doming
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am doming
  progressive 1st person singular
• doming
  participle
• are doming
  progressive
• domes
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had domed
  perfect
• was doming
  progressive singular
• had been doming
  perfect progressive
• were doming
  progressive plural
• domed
  participle
• domed
  simple

Future

• will dome
  simple
• will have domed
  perfect
• will be doming
  progressive
• will have been doming
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of dome

1505–15; < Middle French dome < Italian duomo < Medieval Latin domus ( Deī ) house (of God), church; akin to timber

Explanation

A dome is a large hemispherical roof, like those seen on many capitol buildings. The Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem, is a Muslim shrine with a golden dome that sits on a holy rock. In Italian, duomo is the word for church or cathedral; it comes from the Latin domus, "house." Many Italian cathedrals feature prominent domes, and eventually the word dome became synonymous with that particular architectural feature. An umbrella works because its dome shape sheds the rain efficiently.

Example Sentences

Construction started late last month on a massive octagon with an open overhead dome and around 5,000 arena seats.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Fans have flocked to the LED-covered dome to see established artists such as Eagles, Backstreet Boys and Phish perform in an unmatched high-tech venue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

How are French Open stars coping with Paris 'heat dome'?

From BBC • May 26, 2026

A so-called "heat dome" of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the sort of heat not usually seen until high summer.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

Thousands of citizens would wait for hours to view Lincoln's open casket under the great dome inside the Capitol.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson