catacomb

American  

[kat-uh-kohm] / ˈkæt əˌkoʊm /

noun

1. Usually catacombs. an underground cemetery, especially one consisting of tunnels and rooms with recesses dug out for coffins and tombs.

2. the Catacombs, the subterranean burial chambers of the early Christians in and near Rome, Italy.

3. an underground passageway, especially one full of twists and turns.

---

catacomb British  

/ -ˌkuːm, ˈkætəˌkəʊm /

noun

1. (usually plural) an underground burial place, esp the galleries at Rome, consisting of tunnels with vaults or niches leading off them for tombs

2. a series of interconnected underground tunnels or caves

---

Other Word Forms

• catacumbal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of catacomb

First recorded before 900; Middle English catacombe, Old English catacumbe, from Late Latin catacumbās (accusative plural); of disputed origin; perhaps from unattested Greek katakýmbās, equivalent to kata- + kýmbās, accusative plural of kýmbē “hollow, cup”; see origin at cata-

Explanation

Use the noun catacomb to talk about an old underground cemetery. The most famous catacombs were built by the ancient Romans. You're most likely to come across this word in its plural form, catacombs, and it's almost always used in the context of the ancient Roman empire. A catacomb is shaped like a long tunnel, with space for bodies to be buried, often in tombs. The root word is the Late Latin catacumbae, which refers to one specific catacomb under the Appian Way in ancient Rome, in which the Biblical apostles Peter and Paul are said to be buried.

Example Sentences

The playa desert seems to extend all the way to Egypt when you see the Catacomb of Veils by Dan Sullivan, a pair of enormous pyramids.

From The Guardian • Sep. 1, 2016

Not far from this is the Catacomb of the Santi-Quattro.

From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.

The Catacomb of St Agnese is entered from a vineyard about a quarter of a mile beyond the church.

From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.

He was not greatly impressed with Stacey’s avowal that he had been out rowing with Terwilliger on the night of the Catacomb party.

From Witch Winnie's Mystery, or The Old Oak Cabinet The Story of a King's Daughter by Champney, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams)

In a few minutes they emerged from the gloom of the Catacomb to the golden glory which was flooding the broad Campagna from the westering sun.

From Valeria The Martyr of the Catacombs by Withrow, William Henry