cathedral

See also: cathédral

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kəˈθiːdɹəl/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːdɹəl

Etymology 1

From Middle English cathedral, chathedral, cathiderall, from Old French [Term?], from Latin cathedrālis, from cathedra +‎ -ālis, from Ancient Greek καθέδρα (kathédra, chair of a teacher, throne).

Adjective

cathedral (not comparable)

  1. Relating to the office of a bishop or an archbishop.
Translations

Etymology 2

Ellipsis of cathedral church, from Middle English chirche cathederall, cathedrall chirch, calque of Late Latin ecclēsia cathedrālis (church serving as the bishop's or archbishop's office), from Latin ecclēsia +‎ cathedrālis. Displaced Old English hēafodċiriċe (literally main church, head church).

Noun

cathedral (plural cathedrals)

  1. The principal church serving as the office (and some as place of residence) of an archdiocese's/a diocese's archbishop/bishop which is symbolized by an episcopal throne known as the cathedra.
  2. (loosely or informally) A large or important church building.
  3. (figurative) A large, impressive, lofty, and/or important building or place of some other kind.
    a cathedral of commerce
  4. A large buttressed structure built by certain termites.
Derived terms
Translations

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French cathedral, from Latin cathedrālis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaˌtɛːˈdraːl/, /kaˈtɛːdral/

Adjective

cathedral

  1. cathedral (relating to the see of a bishop)

Descendants

  • English: cathedral

References