cathedral

1 of 2

adjective

ca·​the·​dral kə-ˈthē-drəl 

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

• cathedral 1

Synonyms

Noun

• edifice
• hall
• palace
• tower

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

The violent moments stay with you, not just because of their shock value, but because Hitchcock executes them with the care of a Flemish artist painting the triptych for a cathedral altar. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 13 June 2025

Climb the 115 steps inside the cathedral tower to a lookout with vistas across the ancient and modern cities. —Carolyn Heller, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

Noun

More people began to poke their head in from the hallways that ring the cathedral’s worship space to see what was going on. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025

The cruise concludes in Cologne, home to one of Germany’s most awe-inspiring cathedrals and some of its most beloved Christmas markets. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cathedral

• cathedral ceiling

Rhymes for cathedral

• anhedral
• dihedral
• euhedral
• subhedral
• icosahedral
• octahedral
• polyhedral
• rhombohedral
• tetrahedral

Kids Definition

cathedral

noun

ca·​the·​dral

kə-ˈthē-drəl

: the principal church of a district headed by a bishop