sarcophagus

American  

[sahr-kof-uh-guhs] / sɑrˈkɒf ə gəs /

noun

plural

sarcophagi, sarcophaguses

1. a stone coffin, especially one bearing sculpture, inscriptions, etc., often displayed as a monument.

2. Greek Antiquity. a kind of stone thought to consume the flesh of corpses, used for coffins.

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sarcophagus British  

/ sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs /

noun

1. a stone or marble coffin or tomb, esp one bearing sculpture or inscriptions

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Etymology

Origin of sarcophagus

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek sarkophágos, noun use of the adj.; sarcophagous

Example Sentences

In response, the former Soviet Union constructed the sarcophagus over the nuclear reactor.

From BBC

So far, only about 30 have been recovered from the rubble, including a piece of a Byzantine sarcophagus lid and pottery jars.

From BBC

The boy king's gold-covered sarcophagus and his burial mask, inlaid with lapis lazuli, will take centre stage at Saturday's opening.

From Barron's

Among the bronze and marble objects are portraits, over-life-size figures, sarcophagi reliefs and animal sculptures.

From The Wall Street Journal

They’re lined up like figures on the carved frieze of a Roman sarcophagus, except the slight tilt of the camera has them poised to slide out of the frame.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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