portico

noun

por·​ti·​co ˈpȯr-ti-ˌkō How to pronounce portico (audio)
plural porticoes or porticos
: a colonnade or covered ambulatory especially in classical architecture and often at the entrance of a building

Illustration of portico

Illustration of portico

Examples of portico in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Its Greek Revival portico and the rectangular ‶wedding cake″ bell tower gleamed a brilliant white against the surrounding oak and maple foliage. David Lyon, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023 Off a busy West London thoroughfare sits a former gentlemen’s club where Winston Churchill once stood under the Georgian portico, fingers flashing his V for victory. WSJ, 31 Aug. 2023 The project team restored a cast-iron sink, intricate moldings, counters and cabinetry, and woodwork from the historic Whitney Mill. Pillars on the porch and portico were reproduced as nearly exact replicas. Jeastman, oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2023 The foyer in the main house has a skylight and leads to a library and a dining room, each with a fireplace and access to a large portico with stairs leading to the yard. Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 There archaeologists unearthed two large brick structures beside a courtyard that may have been surrounded by a portico. Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 9 Aug. 2023 From the outside, with its grand portico and towering columns, Pythouse is quite the showstopper. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2023 The Historic Interior Home Tour in Albany on July 29 opens the door to six significant residences, including the 1906 Cathey House, designed in the Georgian Revival-style with a dramatic two-story front portico. Jeastman, oregonlive, 19 July 2023 Often, the ideal orientation for a new courtyard garden is to create a space with full sun at the center and shade cast by buildings or pergolas/porticos, etc. Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 28 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'portico.' 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

Italian, from Latin porticus — more at porch

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of portico was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near portico

Cite this Entry

“Portico.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portico. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

portico

noun
por·​ti·​co ˈpōrt-i-ˌkō How to pronounce portico (audio)
ˈpȯrt-
plural porticoes or porticos
: a row of columns supporting a roof at the entrance of a building
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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