mausoleum

mau·so·le·um

noun \ˌmȯ-sə-ˈlē-əm, ˌmȯ-zə-\

plural mau·so·leums or -lea \-ˈlē-ə\

Definition of MAUSOLEUM

1

: a large tomb; especially : a usually stone building with places for entombment of the dead above ground

2

: a large gloomy building or room

Origin of MAUSOLEUM

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek mausōleion, from Mausōlos Mausolus diedab 353 b.c., ruler of Caria

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

Rhymes with MAUSOLEUM

athenaeum, coliseum, colosseum, hypogeum, wax museum

mausoleum

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Large, impressive tomb, especially a stone building with places for entombment of the dead aboveground. The word is derived from Mausolus, whose widow raised a splendid tomb at Halicarnassus (c. 353–350 BC). Probably the most ambitious mausoleum is the Taj Mahal.