cathedral

[ kuh-thee-druhl ]

/ kəˈθi drəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for cathedral on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

(in nonepiscopal denominations) any of various important churches.

adjective

pertaining to or containing a bishop's throne.

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

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of cathedral

1250–1300; Middle English <Late Latin cathedrālis (ecclesia) a cathedral (church). See cathedra, -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM cathedral

ca·the·dral·like, adjective

Words nearby cathedral

Cathay, cathead, cathect, cathectic, cathedra, cathedral, cathedral ceiling, cathedral glass, cathedral hull, cathepsin, Cather

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use cathedral in a sentence

For Allen, a Roman Catholic as passionate about the sport as she is about her faith, the baseball diamond has always been a cathedral.
How Three Minor League Teams Saved Hometown Baseball|Nick Fouriezos|February 3, 2021|Ozy
Tickets to the virtual Q&A are free, though donations to the cathedral are welcome.
The best things to do — virtually and in person — while social distancing in the D.C. area|Fritz Hahn, Hau Chu|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Then came a Frankish church, a Merovingian basilica, and Carolingian and Romanesque cathedrals.
Watching the flames burn Notre Dame, the spiritual heart of France|Elaine Sciolino|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
With fancy software, they can make a song sound like it was recorded in an echo-y cathedral.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students

Also, it should be noted that some cathedrals collapsed as a result of short-sighted workmanship.
Humanity is stuck in short-term thinking. Here’s how we escape.|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
In 1997, an earthquake in Assisi caused the collapse of the main cathedral and killed ten people.
Florence Preps ‘David’ for the Big One|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here it is being performed by the Westminster Cathedral Choir.
Yes, I Like Christmas Music. Stop Laughing.|Michael Tomasky|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He led the packed cathedral in applause for Ramos and Liu and asked Bratton to bring a message to the men and women of the NYPD.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From deep within, looking up at the tropical sky is like staring through the dome of some kind of earthen cathedral.
What Made Mexico’s Most Mysterious Beach?|Brandon Presser|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Can you believe someone could get into a cathedral and do a concert?
Putin’s Hockey Pal Tells All: Slava Fetisov on ‘Red Army,’ Soviet Nostalgia, and What Drives Putin|Marlow Stern|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cathedral is the only Spanish parochial church; it cares for two thousand four hundred souls.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Father Fochel of the Cathedral had attempted to explain it; but he had not done so to her satisfaction.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
They have an old Cathedral here (now Presbyterian) of which the citizens seem quite proud, I can't perceive why.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Inside the walls of Manila there is only one Spanish parochial church, namely, the cathedral.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
There is a six-horse steam engine in use in Chester Cathedral (installed 1876).
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller

British Dictionary definitions for cathedral

cathedral

/ (kəˈθiːdrəl) /

noun

the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's official throne
(as modifier)a cathedral city; cathedral clergy

Word Origin for cathedral

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

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 cathedral (1 of 2)

cathedral

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.)

Cultural definitions for cathedral (2 of 2)

cathedral

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

Origin of cathedral

OTHER WORDS FROM cathedral

Words nearby cathedral

Words related to cathedral

How to use cathedral in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cathedral

Word Origin for cathedral

Cultural definitions for cathedral (1 of 2)

Cultural definitions for cathedral (2 of 2)