triforium

American  

[trahy-fawr-ee-uhm, -fohr-] / traɪˈfɔr i əm, -ˈfoʊr- /

noun

Architecture.

plural

triforia

1. (in a church) the wall at the side of the nave, choir, or transept, corresponding to the space between the vaulting or ceiling and the roof of an aisle, often having a blind arcade or an opening in a gallery.

---

triforium British  

/ traɪˈfɔːrɪəm /

noun

1. an arcade above the arches of the nave, choir, or transept of a church

---

Other Word Forms

• triforial adjective

Etymology

Origin of triforium

1695–1705; < Anglo-Latin, special use of Medieval Latin triforium kind of gallery, literally, something with three openings, equivalent to Latin tri- tri- + for ( is ) opening, door + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

A new museum overlooks the nave, through the stone arches of the 13th-century triforium, where monks once did laps in penance.

From Washington Post • Jan. 10, 2019

The triforium is to be converted to create public gallery and exhibition space in what will be the first major addition to the building since 1745.

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2014

Huge colored banners had been hung from the triforium and all the candles on the piers were lit.

From "Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction" by David Macaulay

Above them was the triforium, a row of arches that went up another twenty feet in front of a narrow passageway.

From "Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction" by David Macaulay

The clerestory consists of round windows with double lights, but there is no triforium.

From Cathedral Cities of Italy by Collins, William Wiehe