cathedral

[ kuh-thee-druhl ]

noun

1. the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's throne.
2. (in nonepiscopal denominations) any of various important churches.

adjective

1. pertaining to or containing a bishop's throne.
2. pertaining to or emanating from a chair of office or authority.

cathedral

/ kəˈθiːdrəl /

noun

1. 1. the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's official throne
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cathedral city

      cathedral clergy

cathedral

¹

1. A church building in which a Christian bishop has his official seat; cathedra is Latin for “chair.” Cathedrals are usually large and imposing, and many have been important in the development of architecture. The building of a cathedral, especially in the Middle Ages , was a project in which the entire town took part. ( See Chartres ; Notre Dame de Paris ; and Saint Paul's Cathedral .)

cathedral

²

1. A Christian church building in which a bishop has his official seat ( cathedra is Latin for “chair”). A cathedral is usually large and imposing, and many cathedrals are important in the history of architecture. ( See Chartres , Notre Dame de Paris , and Saint Paul's Cathedral .)

Other Words From

• ca·thedral·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cathedral¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Late Latin cathedrālis ( ecclesia ) a cathedral (church). See cathedra, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cathedral¹

C13: from Late Latin ( ecclesia ) cathedrālis cathedral (church), from cathedra bishop's throne, from Greek kathedra seat

Example Sentences

Seeing the coral, which is in the Solomon Islands, was like seeing a "cathedral underwater", he said.

From BBC

Other singers from the Master Chorale later joined in and “laid the bricks of a cathedral one at a time,” Gershon said, “layering and combining and building and stacking and removing.”

From Los Angeles Times

The couple watched as Valenzuela’s family made their way inside the cathedral, followed by the pallbearers who helped move the pitcher’s casket adorned with white roses inside the building.

From Los Angeles Times

As the event is expected to draw massive crowds, an overflow viewing area will be set up in the Cathedral Plaza and the service will be livestreamed on the cathedral’s website.

From Los Angeles Times

“I had to go to church, and I went to the cathedral,” she said.

From Salon