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: a projecting part of a building (such as a church) that is usually semicircular in plan and vaulted
Examples of apse in a Sentence
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The fresco of Christ the Redeemer in Glory with the Heavenly Host by Niccolo Circignani Il Pomarancio (1588) in main apse of church Basilica di Santi Giovanni e Paolo.
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Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Stained glass images of archangels, known as protectors of humanity and messengers from God, loomed overhead in the apse.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
The location is spectacular: Dating back to the 14th century, the structure shows a stratification of styles where the neoclassical column and the large apse visually dominate.
—Billboard Italy, Billboard, 19 June 2025
On the third floor, sneak behind displays of men’s shoes to peer down into the apse of the medieval Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church across the street.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
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Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Stained glass images of archangels, known as protectors of humanity and messengers from God, loomed overhead in the apse.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
The location is spectacular: Dating back to the 14th century, the structure shows a stratification of styles where the neoclassical column and the large apse visually dominate.
—Billboard Italy, Billboard, 19 June 2025
On the third floor, sneak behind displays of men’s shoes to peer down into the apse of the medieval Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church across the street.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for apse
Cite this Entry
“Apse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apse. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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noun
: a part of a building (as a church) that sticks out from one end of the building, is usually semicircular, has an arched roof, and is often richly decorated especially in Gothic churches
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