crypt

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noun \ ˈkript \

Definition of crypt

1 a :a chamber (such as a vault) wholly or partly underground; especially :a vault under the main floor of a church

b :a chamber in a mausoleum

2 a :an anatomical pit or depression

b :a simple tubular gland

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Examples of crypt in a Sentence

the old church's crypt is the final resting place for the president and his beloved wife

Recent Examples of crypt from the Web

From crib to crypt, womb to tomb, sisters love, support and help one another in times of need.

— elizabeth logan, Glamour, "Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Millionaires, Apparently Share Underwear," 29 Aug. 2017
After six years of shenanigans all over Westeros and Essos, Sansa and Arya Stark finally had their big reunion in the Winterfell crypt on Sunday night.

— eliza thompson, Cosmopolitan, "Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner on Why Filming Their Reunion Was So Hard," 7 Aug. 2017
At least 75 are for urns above ground along with 70,000 crypts, 70,000 cremation niches, and another 50,000 cremation spaces spread through the cremation gardens.

— elizabeth roberts, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Cemetery plans take shape for defunct golf course," 7 Aug. 2017
Jon visits Ned Stark’s tomb in the Winterfell crypts.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 2: 16 Things to Know About "Stormborn"," 24 July 2017
In the Red Keep crypt, Qyburn had set up a massive cross bow, aimed at a relic: the skull of Aegon's largest dragon.

— stephanie merry, chicagotribune.com, "Are the dragons in trouble on 'Game of Thrones'?," 24 July 2017
After the gates of the premises closed Thursday, a 1.5-ton stone slab was removed to open the crypt with Dali's remains.

— Bloomberg.com, "In Surrealist Twist, Salvador Dali Exhumed in Paternity Lawsuit," 20 July 2017
Tom Cruise is a poor fit as a soldier of fortune who battles an ancient evil princess released from her crypt in this convoluted mishmash.

— jeff miller, Orange County Register, "Movies in theaters June 16-22," 16 June 2017
A few officers milled about the Senate wing of the Capitol near the crypt.

— chad pergram, Fox News, "Scalise shooting adds dark new chapter to congressional baseball lore," 15 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crypt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Hidden under the main floor of a great church is often a large room, often with a tomb as its centerpiece. Many major European churches were built over the remains of a saint—the Vatican's great St. Peter's Basilica is an example—and instead of having the coffin buried, it was often given its spacious room below ground level. In a large aboveground tomb, or mausoleum, there may be several small chambers for individual coffins, also called crypts; when the comic book Tales from the Crypt made its first appearance in 1950, it was this meaning that the authors were referring to.

Origin and Etymology of crypt

Latin crypta, from Greek kryptē, from feminine of kryptos hidden, from kryptein to hide; perhaps akin to Lithuanian krauti to pile up

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1583

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crypt Synonyms

Synonyms

catacomb (s), vault

Related Words

mausoleum, sepulchre (or sepulcher), sepulture, tomb

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

crypt-

combining form

variants: or crypto-

Definition of crypt-

1 :hidden :covered

cryptogenic

2 :cryptographic

cryptanalysis

Origin and Etymology of crypt-

New Latin, from Greek kryptos

CRYPT Defined for English Language Learners

crypt

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noun

Definition of crypt for English Language Learners

: a room under a church in which people are buried after they have died

Medical Dictionary

crypt

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noun \ ˈkript \

medical Definition of crypt

1 :an anatomical pit, depression, or invagination

a developing tooth in its bony crypt

— see tonsillar crypt

2 :a simple tubular gland (as a crypt of Lieberkühn)

Learn More about crypt

See words that rhyme with crypt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for crypt Spanish Central: Translation of crypt Nglish: Translation of crypt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of crypt for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crypt

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crypt

Definition of crypt

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Examples of crypt in a Sentence

Recent Examples of crypt from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of crypt

crypt Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Architecture Terms

crypt-

Definition of crypt-

Origin and Etymology of crypt-

CRYPT Defined for English Language Learners

crypt

Definition of crypt for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

crypt

medical Definition of crypt

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