altarpiece

noun

al·​tar·​piece ˈȯl-tər-ˌpēs How to pronounce altarpiece (audio)
: a work of art that decorates the space above and behind an altar

Examples of altarpiece in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This forthright but ethereal image of Jesus stepping out from his tomb is from a multipart altarpiece, with other moving and remarkable panels housed in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum and London’s National Gallery. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2024 The items, a brass plaque and a wooden altarpiece, were presented to Oba Ewuare II during a ceremony held at the Benin Palace in Nigeria. News Desk, Artforum, 19 July 2024 Two objects, a brass plaque and wooden altarpiece, were formally returned in a ceremony held on July 15 at the Benin Palace in Nigeria. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 18 July 2024 Take in the Baroque architecture of Lecce and prepare to be overwhelmed by its exuberant facades, altarpieces, and piazzas. Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for altarpiece 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'altarpiece.' 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

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of altarpiece was in 1624

Dictionary Entries Near altarpiece

Cite this Entry

“Altarpiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altarpiece. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

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