dome

American  

[dohm] / doʊm /

noun

1. Architecture.

   1. a vault, having a circular plan and usually in the form of a portion of a sphere, so constructed as to exert an equal thrust in all directions.

   2. a domical roof or ceiling.

   3. a polygonal vault, ceiling, or roof.

2. any covering thought to resemble the hemispherical vault of a building or room.

   the great dome of the sky.

3. anything shaped like a hemisphere or inverted bowl.

4. (in a dam) a semidome having its convex surface toward the impounded water.

5. Crystallography. a form having planes that intersect the vertical axis and are parallel to one of the lateral axes.

6. Geology. upwarp.

7. Also called vistadome.  Railroads. a raised, glass-enclosed section of the roof of a passenger car, placed over an elevated section of seats to afford passengers a full view of scenery.

8. Horology. an inner cover for the works of a watch, which snaps into the rim of the case.

9. a mountain peak having a rounded summit.

10. Slang. a person's head.

    I wish I could get the idea into that thick dome of yours.

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verb (used with object)

domed, doming

1. to cover with or as if with a dome.

2. to shape like a dome.

verb (used without object)

domed, doming

1. to rise or swell as a dome.

dome British  

/ dəʊm, ˈdəʊmɪkəl, ˈdɒm- /

noun

1. a hemispherical roof or vault or a structure of similar form

2. something shaped like this

3. crystallog a crystal form in which two planes intersect along an edge parallel to a lateral axis

4. a slang word for the head

5. geology

   1. a structure in which rock layers slope away in all directions from a central point

   2. another name for pericline

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verb

1. to cover with or as if with a dome

2. to shape like a dome

dome Scientific  

/ dōm /

1. A circular or elliptical area of uplifted rock in which the rock dips gently away, in all directions, from a central point.

2. A wedge-shaped mineral crystal that has two nonparallel, similarly inclined faces that intersect along a plane of symmetry.

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Other Word Forms

• domelike adjective
• domical adjective

Etymology

Origin of dome

1505–15; < Middle French dome < Italian duomo < Medieval Latin domus ( Deī ) house (of God), church; akin to timber

Example Sentences

Then Renata remembered that the popcorn popper had a clear plastic dome on it.

From Literature

Back in the 1800s, a lava dome called Goat Rocks had formed about two thousand feet below the summit.

From Literature

Gaga donned a red and black fur long-sleeve top that flowed into a long black skirt, a cage-like dome concealing her head.

From Los Angeles Times

Three towers, each topped with a dome in dusky pink, gave it a look of wit and knowing intelligence, and its vast arched windows with their broad sills gave it solidity and purpose.

From Literature

I spot porches, a conservatory, and an odd copper dome wedged in on the side.

From Literature