dome

1 of 2

noun

ˈdōm 

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

ˈdō-məl 

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

Synonyms of dome

Noun

• head
• skull

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

Water the seeds sparingly and loosely cover the pot or container with plastic wrap or a dome. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026

There is a wide variety of greenhouse options, from farmhouse-style A-frames to modern geodesic domes. —Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026

Verb

Chiefs, more next door The development is slated to reach completion before the Kansas City Chiefs are due to complete their $3 billion, domed stadium next door in Kansas City, Kansas. —Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2026

The marbled, frescoed, octagonal room was domed to amplify the sound of a tinkling keys at the center, and hosted regular recitals. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026

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

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dome

• double-dome
• heat dome
• onion dome
• pleasure dome
• salt dome

Rhymes for dome

• brome
• chrome
• comb
• combe
• crome
• foam
• gnome
• holm
• loam
• roam
• tome
• acrosome

Kids Definition

dome

1 of 2 noun

ˈdōm 

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

ˈdōm 

: a rounded-arch element in the wave tracing in an electroencephalogram

the spike and dome pattern characteristic of absence seizures