cathedral

[kuh-thee-druhl]

noun

1. the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's throne.

2. (in nonepiscopal denominations) any of various important churches.

adjective

1. pertaining to or containing a bishop's throne.

2. pertaining to or emanating from a chair of office or authority.

cathedral

/ kəˈθiːdrəl /

noun

1. 1. the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's official throne

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cathedral city

      cathedral clergy

cathedral

¹

1. A church building in which a Christian bishop has his official seat; cathedra is Latin for “chair.” Cathedrals are usually large and imposing, and many have been important in the development of architecture. The building of a cathedral, especially in the Middle Ages, was a project in which the entire town took part. (See Chartres; Notre Dame de Paris; and Saint Paul's Cathedral.)

cathedral

²

1. A Christian church building in which a bishop has his official seat (cathedra is Latin for “chair”). A cathedral is usually large and imposing, and many cathedrals are important in the history of architecture. (See Chartres, Notre Dame de Paris, and Saint Paul's Cathedral.)

Other Word Forms

• cathedrallike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cathedral¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Late Latin cathedrālis ( ecclesia ) a cathedral (church). See cathedra, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cathedral¹

C13: from Late Latin ( ecclesia ) cathedrālis cathedral (church), from cathedra bishop's throne, from Greek kathedra seat

Example Sentences

The plan then called for a mammoth floating crane, as tall as one of England’s largest cathedrals, to hook into the framework and raise it upward and sideways to a position directly above the cradle.

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“We often like to think of movie theaters as churches. If so, the Village is a cathedral and with the American Cinematheque, we found our congregation.”

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Once it was a concrete cathedral that held the hopes of teams and fans setting off with dreams of actually trying to win a World Cup.

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They sat together on the cathedral steps for an hour or so.

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After dinner, we walk the narrow streets of the old town to Pamplona’s cathedral.

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