nave

American  

[neyv] / neɪv /

noun

1. the principal longitudinal area of a church, extending from the main entrance or narthex to the chancel, usually flanked by aisles of less height and breadth: generally used only by the congregation.

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nave ¹ British  

/ neɪv /

noun

1. the central space in a church, extending from the narthex to the chancel and often flanked by aisles

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nave ² British  

/ neɪv /

noun

1. the central block or hub of a wheel

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Etymology

Origin of nave

First recorded in 1665–75; from Medieval Latin nāvis, Latin: “ship”; so called from the resemblance in shape

Example Sentences

As a viewer marches down the nave toward the high altar, the apostles also come into view, on a trompe l’oeil ledge.

From The Wall Street Journal

Outright splendor gives way to bold-faced promotion in an annex gallery, housed in MAD’s grand, soaring nave.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Monreale mosaics were meant to impress, humble and inspire the visitor who walked down the central nave, following the fashion of Constantinople, the capital of the surviving Roman empire in the east.

From BBC

For example, archaeologist Cédric Moulis of the University of Lorraine painstakingly reassembled dozens of wedge-shaped stones called voussoirs recovered from the collapsed vaulted ceiling over the nave to glean insights into their mechanical properties.

From Science Magazine

More than 6,000 tonnes of steel were used to build the nave.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• heart
• hub
• place