cathedral

1 of 2

adjective

ca·​the·​dral kə-ˈthē-drəl How to pronounce cathedral (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or containing a cathedra
2
: emanating from a chair of authority
3
: suggestive of a cathedral
a cathedral grove of redwoods

cathedral

2 of 2

noun

1
: a church that is the official seat of a diocesan bishop
2
: something that resembles or suggests a cathedral (as in size or importance)
a cathedral of business
the sports cathedral

Illustration of cathedral

Illustration of cathedral
  • cathedral 1

Examples of cathedral in a Sentence

Noun the company didn't want just a new office building—it demanded a cathedral that proclaimed its place among the giants of finance
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Much of the cathedral remains surrounded by scaffolding, which could take weeks if not months to remove. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 But costs for cathedral construction have ranged from $31 million in Knoxville in 2018 to $190 million in Los Angeles in 2002, according to the Charlotte diocese. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024 On Tuesday, McRae marked the anniversary with his Instagram entry that featured a dramatic portrait of his wife perched in front of a cathedral organ. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024 The watch has 12 complications, including a cathedral minute repeater, tourbillon, perpetual calendar, sidereal time and sky chart. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023 The Baroque, 17th-century convent and cathedral Santo Domingo, just across the street from Otro, is hulking and magnificent in the frame to my left. Catherine Tansey, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2024 Recommendations Key stops La Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an 8th-century mosque turned cathedral that is one of the world's grandest examples of Moorish architecture. Andrew Ferren, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2023 The town itself is still hemmed in by its ancient walls punctuated with watchtowers, and its cathedral dates back to the 1200s and contains several important frescoes and carvings. Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2024 The cathedral dates from 1181 and attracts around 300,000 visitors every year. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023
Noun
Construction began on the current cathedral in 1927. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024 The blaze is reminiscent of a fire that destroyed much of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral five years ago, almost to the date. Christian Wienberg, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024 Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral, located in Cologne, is one of the largest Gothic-style cathedrals in the world and attracts around 20,000 visitors every day, according to the Visit Cologne website. Sophia Compton, Fox News, 10 Apr. 2024 Having been largely flattened by the Luftwaffe during World War II, Bodø’s rationalist post-war rebuild is visible in the boxy buildings that line the shores and a skyline punctuated by the angular 1950s cathedral. Ben Olsen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024 Queen Camilla then proceeded out of the cathedral and signed the visitor’s book on her way out. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024 The tower of Jesus Christ will stand at 172.5 meters (566 feet) tall, and will be finished with a 17-meter-tall (56-foot) four-armed cross, according to the cathedral. Jack Guy, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024 Reflections on a transgender funeral at the cathedral on Fifth Avenue. Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 26 Feb. 2024 Bishop Jaime Soto, who led Easter services at the cathedral, confirmed the action would occur on Monday. Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cathedral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cathedral was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cathedral

Cite this Entry

“Cathedral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cathedral. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

cathedral

noun
ca·​the·​dral
kə-ˈthē-drəl
: the principal church of a district headed by a bishop

More from Merriam-Webster on cathedral

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