basilica

[ buh-sil-i-kuh, -zil- ]

noun

1. an early Christian or medieval church of the type built especially in Italy, characterized by a plan including a nave, two or four side aisles, a semicircular apse, a narthex, and often other features, as a short transept, a number of small semicircular apses terminating the aisles, or an atrium. The interior is characterized by strong horizontality, with little or no attempt at rhythmic accents. All spaces are usually covered with timber roofs or ceilings except for the apse or apses, which are vaulted.
2. one of the seven main churches of Rome or another Roman Catholic church accorded the same religious privileges.
3. (in ancient Rome) a large oblong building used as a hall of justice and public meeting place.

basilica

/ bəˈzɪlɪkə /

noun

1. a Roman building, used for public administration, having a large rectangular central nave with an aisle on each side and an apse at the end
2. a rectangular early Christian or medieval church, usually having a nave with clerestories, two or four aisles, one or more vaulted apses, and a timber roof
3. a Roman Catholic church having special ceremonial rights

basilica

1. A large Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church building. A basilica is built with several parallel aisles separated by rows of columns, ending in a semicircular structure, the apse. Saint Peter's Basilica is the church of the Vatican in Rome .

Derived Forms

• baˈsilican, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of basilica¹

1535–45; < Latin < Greek basilikḗ hall, short for basilikḗ oikía royal house. See basilic

Word History and Origins

Origin of basilica¹

C16: from Latin, from Greek basilikē hall, from basilikē oikia the king's house, from basileus king; see basil

Example Sentences

Hundreds of young people crowded into the Holy Family Basilica to pray for the dead.

From BBC

Just weeks earlier, Sunday Mass had been interrupted by chants from the altar of the basilica.

From BBC

“We are the Church,” said Mitchelee Mbugua outside the basilica as the Mass wound up.

From BBC

Park Güell, pronounced “gu-ay” was started in 1900 as a planned upscale residential development designed by Gaudí, whose other works include the still-in-progress La Sagrada Familia Basilica.

From Seattle Times

Newsom and his wife, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, sat in the second row of the audience in an Apostolic Palace near St. Peter’s Basilica.

From Los Angeles Times