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

At the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast Washington, the largest Catholic church building in North America, the cafeteria that would normally host close to 1,000 people on Christmas was empty.

From Washington Post

What Francis said to Law when the two of them met and briefly embraced at the Rome basilica is not known.

From The Daily Beast

The basilica is one of a handful of churches outside the walls of Vatican City owned by the Holy See.

From The Daily Beast

The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a church where the faithful come to pray for cures.

From The Daily Beast

The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is not the biggest church in Boston, but it has two pieces of history.

From The Daily Beast

A stately basilica was erected over the entrance to the Catacomb, it is said in the time of Constantine.

From Project Gutenberg

This is situated near the basilica of St. Agnes, and overlies part of the Catacomb.

From Project Gutenberg

The Callevan Forum seems in general simpler than others, but its basilica is remarkably large.

From Project Gutenberg

The Duomo is a basilica with nave and double aisles , with 110a transept flanked with aisles, covered by a dome over the crossing.

From Project Gutenberg

It is of basilica form, with a nave and aisles flanked by sixteen columns of sandstone.

From Project Gutenberg