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
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Spikes are crafted to represent the sun rays of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s altarpiece at the Santa Maria Della Vittoria church in the Italian capital. Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 19 May 2025 The first clues about the altarpiece’s origins come from the wooden panel it’s painted on. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 The altarpiece was first documented in 1602 at the Premonstratensian Abbey of Drongen in Ghent, Belgium, according to a statement from the National Gallery. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 Continue on to the Cathedral of Our Lady (admission €12) to see four of his major altarpieces. Nina Siegal, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for altarpiece

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of altarpiece was in 1624

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Cite this Entry

“Altarpiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altarpiece. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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