basilica
[ buh-sil-i-kuh, -zil- ]
/ bəˈsɪl ɪ kə, -ˈzɪl- /
noun
an early Christian or medieval church of the type built especially in Italy, characterized by a plan including a nave, two or four side aisles, a semicircular apse, a narthex, and often other features, as a short transept, a number of small semicircular apses terminating the aisles, or an atrium. The interior is characterized by strong horizontality, with little or no attempt at rhythmic accents. All spaces are usually covered with timber roofs or ceilings except for the apse or apses, which are vaulted.
one of the seven main churches of Rome or another Roman Catholic church accorded the same religious privileges.
(in ancient Rome) a large oblong building used as a hall of justice and public meeting place.
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Origin of basilica
Words nearby basilica
basilect, basilemma, Basil I, Basilian, basilic, basilica, basilican, Basilicata, basilic vein, basilisk, Basilius
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for basilica
British Dictionary definitions for basilica
basilica
/ (bəˈzɪlɪkə) /
noun
a Roman building, used for public administration, having a large rectangular central nave with an aisle on each side and an apse at the end
a rectangular early Christian or medieval church, usually having a nave with clerestories, two or four aisles, one or more vaulted apses, and a timber roof
a Roman Catholic church having special ceremonial rights
Derived forms of basilica
basilican or basilic, adjectiveWord Origin for basilica
C16: from Latin, from Greek basilikē hall, from basilikē oikia the king's house, from basileus king; see basil
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for basilica
basilica
[ (buh-sil-uh-kuh) ]
A large Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church building. A basilica is built with several parallel aisles separated by rows of columns, ending in a semicircular structure, the apse. Saint Peter's Basilica is the church of the Vatican in Rome.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.