dome

1 of 2

noun

1
archaic : a stately building : mansion
2
: a large hemispherical roof or ceiling
3
: a natural formation or structure that resembles the dome or cupola of a building
4
: a form of crystal composed of planes parallel to a lateral axis that meet above in a horizontal edge like a roof
5
: an upward fold in rock whose sides dip uniformly in all directions
6
: a roofed sports stadium
7
: a person's head
domal adjective

dome

2 of 2

verb

domed; doming

transitive verb

1
: to cover with a dome
2
: to form into a dome

intransitive verb

: to swell upward or outward like a dome

Examples of dome in a Sentence

Noun the dome of the Capitol building The team's new stadium is a dome.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
While his peers were out late at raves, and gathering in the central piazzas for the infamous aperitivo tradition, Alessandro was looking up at roofs and domes, waiting for buildings to speak to him. Chiara Barzini, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2023 Its incredibly intricate engraving takes its design cues from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Dubai, the largest in the U.A.E., by recreating the arabesque and floral patterns of its 82 domes and minarets via line engraving and bas reliefs techniques done by hand. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 27 Nov. 2023 Instead, the domes will come down gradually, from the bottom up. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2023 Other companies are exploring radically new reactor designs that, in theory, can’t melt down and don’t require big containment domes or other expensive equipment. Brad Plumer, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023 This dome ring is made with 18-karat solid-gold vermeil, not to be confused with plating. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2023 Among adventuresome outings offered, a panoramic flight over the Bungle Bungle Range, an undulating marvel of grey and ochre-striped sandstone domes created by more than 20 million years of erosion. Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Place under glass domes or in bowls for a simple, elegant look. Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023 In one of the white domes, a massive conveyer belt runs the piping toward a device that slices it into manageably sized pieces. Abe Streep, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023
Verb
There will be plenty of bells and whistles expected of these brands, including restaurants from top chefs, but also a few features new to the industry (think glass domes on the hull). Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Nov. 2023 In the domes, guests will find living and sleeping spaces, which come with king-size beds, kitchenettes, lounge areas with TVs, and separate bathroom domed areas with a soaking tub and shower. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2023 Dough that is properly risen will be domed with a visible network of bubbles. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023 In a café, opposite the grand, domed Helsinki cathedral, Lehtiniemi patiently listens to me describe that feeling. WIRED, 11 Sep. 2023 And all crude oil tanks will be required to be domed. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2023 It was given the nickname because the new examples’ domed sapphire crystals resemble the profile of the acrylic crystals used on original 1960s watches. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 June 2023 The tree is literally hung from the ceiling, to keep some seasonal weight off the floor, with the priceless Tiffany domed ceiling below. Louisa Chu, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2023 If the cake has domed in the middle, press the cake down to create a perfectly even surface. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 9 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, Italian, & Latin; French dôme dome, cathedral, from Italian duomo cathedral, from Medieval Latin domus church, from Latin, house; akin to Greek domos house, Sanskrit dam

First Known Use

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dome was in 1513

Dictionary Entries Near dome

Cite this Entry

“Dome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dome. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

dome

1 of 2 noun
1
: a large rounded roof or ceiling shaped like half of a ball
2
: a structure or natural formation that resembles the dome of a building
rock domes
3
: a roofed sports stadium

dome

2 of 2 verb
domed; doming
1
: to cover with or as if with a dome
2
: to form into or swell upward or outward like a dome
Etymology

Noun

from French dôme "mansion, cathedral" and Italian duomo "cathedral" and Latin domus "church," from earlier Latin domus "house" — related to domestic, domicile

Medical Definition

dome

noun
: a rounded-arch element in the wave tracing in an electroencephalogram
the spike and dome pattern characteristic of absence seizures

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