sarcophagus

American  

[sahr-kof-uh-guhs] / sɑrˈkɒf ə gəs /

noun

plural

sarcophagi, sarcophaguses

1. a stone coffin, especially one bearing sculpture, inscriptions, etc., often displayed as a monument.

2. Greek Antiquity. a kind of stone thought to consume the flesh of corpses, used for coffins.

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sarcophagus British  

/ sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs /

noun

1. a stone or marble coffin or tomb, esp one bearing sculpture or inscriptions

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Etymology

Origin of sarcophagus

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek sarkophágos, noun use of the adj.; sarcophagous

Example Sentences

Yet collectively they suggest a frieze on an antique sarcophagus, aligned on the rosy ledge across the bottom of the painting, their heads forming a horizontal row with that of Jesus.

From The Wall Street Journal

In response, the former Soviet Union constructed the sarcophagus over the nuclear reactor.

From BBC

So far, only about 30 have been recovered from the rubble, including a piece of a Byzantine sarcophagus lid and pottery jars.

From BBC

The boy king's gold-covered sarcophagus and his burial mask, inlaid with lapis lazuli, will take centre stage at Saturday's opening.

From Barron's

Among the bronze and marble objects are portraits, over-life-size figures, sarcophagi reliefs and animal sculptures.

From The Wall Street Journal

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