noun
cathedral
kuh-THEED-ruhl
noun
1
The main church of a diocese, home to a bishop's official seat.
"Tourists queue for hours to see the stained-glass windows of the cathedral."
2
Any large, grand building that feels cathedral-like in scale or importance.
"The new library has been called a cathedral of learning."
How to Use Cathedral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA major church that serves as a bishop's headquarters, or loosely, any grand, imposing building.
Common pairings
a Gothic cathedral
cathedral ceiling
cathedral city
Word Forms
cathedrals plural
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Tourists queue for hours to see the stained-glass windows of the _____.
Etymology
From Latin cathedralis, "of a bishop's chair," from cathedra ("seat, throne"), ultimately from Greek kathedra.