Illustration of clerestory
- clerestory 1
clerestory
noun
clere·sto·ry
ˈklir-ˌstȯr-ē 
-st(ə-)rē
variants
or less commonly clearstory
1
: an outside wall of a room or building that rises above an adjoining roof and contains windows
2
: gallery
Examples of clerestory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The home features a vaulted great room with wide-plank floors, exposed beams, and clerestory windows; big open kitchen; bunk/theater room; and lower level with ski gear area and kitchenette.
—
The Week Staff, theweek, 31 Jan. 2024
The main house has five bedrooms, each with bath and fireplace; a double-height great room with oversize and clerestory windows and fireplace; a chef's kitchen; wine storage; and a sunset roof deck.
—The Week Staff, The Week, 31 July 2022
Vaulted ceilings add volume, and windows were strategically placed to harness light and provide glimpses of the sky via clerestory windows and open views over the leafy canyon thanks to vast planes of glass.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2023
Other midcentury design hallmarks include clean lines, clerestory windows, and walls of glass.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023
The galley kitchen has plenty of storage. Find clerestory windows throughout the home, which allows natural light to pour in the space.
—Ryan Conner, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023
The studio has its own entrance — with a black brick façade and clerestory windows.
—Curbed, 31 July 2023
The height of the upper clerestory level, which is the highest part of the ceiling, reaches 63 feet, 7 inches.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 3 May 2023
The home’s terrazzo floating fireplace, six skylights and clerestory windows―plus an attached casita―cement the residence’s midcentury cred.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
The Week Staff, theweek, 31 Jan. 2024
The main house has five bedrooms, each with bath and fireplace; a double-height great room with oversize and clerestory windows and fireplace; a chef's kitchen; wine storage; and a sunset roof deck.
—The Week Staff, The Week, 31 July 2022
Vaulted ceilings add volume, and windows were strategically placed to harness light and provide glimpses of the sky via clerestory windows and open views over the leafy canyon thanks to vast planes of glass.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2023
Other midcentury design hallmarks include clean lines, clerestory windows, and walls of glass.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023
The galley kitchen has plenty of storage. Find clerestory windows throughout the home, which allows natural light to pour in the space.
—Ryan Conner, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023
The studio has its own entrance — with a black brick façade and clerestory windows.
—Curbed, 31 July 2023
The height of the upper clerestory level, which is the highest part of the ceiling, reaches 63 feet, 7 inches.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 3 May 2023
The home’s terrazzo floating fireplace, six skylights and clerestory windows―plus an attached casita―cement the residence’s midcentury cred.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clerestory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from clere clear + story
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of clerestory was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near clerestory
Cite this Entry
“Clerestory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clerestory. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
clerestory
noun
clere·sto·ry
ˈkli(ə)r-ˌstōr-ē
-ˌstȯr-
plural clerestories
: an outside wall of a room or building that rises above a roof next to it and contains windows
More from Merriam-Webster on clerestory
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clerestory
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