cathedral
adjectivenouncommon in dialogue
- //kəˈθiːdɹəl//
- //kəˈtiːdrəl//
Relating to the office of a bishop or an archbishop.
adjective
- 1
Relating to the office of a bishop or an archbishop.
Etymology
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”).
noun
- 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.
The bishop presided over the ceremony from his seat in the cathedral.
- 2
informalA large or important church building.
- 3
figurativeA 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.
Etymology
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”).
Forms
- plural
- cathedrals
cathedral · Relating to the office of a bishop or an archbishop.
Cathedral · The mainstream system or establishment in society, regarded…Catherine · A female given name from Ancient Greek.catholic · Universal; all-encompassing.