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

For Allen, a Roman Catholic as passionate about the sport as she is about her faith, the baseball diamond has always been a cathedral.

From Ozy

Tickets to the virtual Q&A are free, though donations to the cathedral are welcome.

From Washington Post

Then came a Frankish church, a Merovingian basilica, and Carolingian and Romanesque cathedrals.

From Washington Post

With fancy software, they can make a song sound like it was recorded in an echo-y cathedral.

From Science News For Students

Also, it should be noted that some cathedrals collapsed as a result of short-sighted workmanship.

From MIT Technology Review

In 1997, an earthquake in Assisi caused the collapse of the main cathedral and killed ten people.

From The Daily Beast

Here it is being performed by the Westminster Cathedral Choir.

From The Daily Beast

He led the packed cathedral in applause for Ramos and Liu and asked Bratton to bring a message to the men and women of the NYPD.

From The Daily Beast

From deep within, looking up at the tropical sky is like staring through the dome of some kind of earthen cathedral.

From The Daily Beast

Can you believe someone could get into a cathedral and do a concert?

From The Daily Beast

The cathedral is the only Spanish parochial church; it cares for two thousand four hundred souls.

From Project Gutenberg

Father Fochel of the Cathedral had attempted to explain it; but he had not done so to her satisfaction.

From Project Gutenberg

They have an old Cathedral here (now Presbyterian) of which the citizens seem quite proud, I can't perceive why.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside the walls of Manila there is only one Spanish parochial church, namely, the cathedral.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a six-horse steam engine in use in Chester Cathedral (installed 1876).

From Project Gutenberg