noun
sarcophagus
sah-KO-fuh-guhs
Sarcophagus (noun) means a stone coffin, often elaborately carved or inscribed, used especially in ancient burial customs. Example: “The pharaoh's sarcophagus was covered in gold hieroglyphics.”
noun
1
A stone coffin, often elaborately carved or inscribed, used especially in ancient burial customs.
"The pharaoh's sarcophagus was covered in gold hieroglyphics."
"Archaeologists uncovered a Roman sarcophagus beneath the vineyard."
2
A protective structure of concrete and steel built to seal off a destroyed nuclear reactor, as at Chernobyl.
"A new steel sarcophagus now covers the damaged reactor at Chernobyl."
How to use sarcophagus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA carved stone coffin, or by extension, a large protective shell built to contain something dangerous.
Common pairings
stone sarcophagus
ancient sarcophagus
seal a sarcophagus
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Word forms
- Plural
- sarcophagi, sarcophaguses, sarcophagusses
- Third person singular
- sarcophaguses
- Past tense
- sarcophagused
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pharaoh's _____ was covered in gold hieroglyphics.
Etymology
From Latin "sarcophagus," from Greek "sarkophagos," literally "flesh-eating" — originally describing a type of limestone believed to dissolve the flesh of corpses, later used for stone coffins.
Rhymes for sarcophagus
See all rhymes for sarcophagus →Frequently asked questions
What does “sarcophagus” mean?
The word “sarcophagus” means a stone coffin, often elaborately carved or inscribed, used especially in ancient burial customs. In plain terms, a carved stone coffin, or by extension, a large protective shell built to contain something dangerous.
How do you pronounce “sarcophagus”?
“Sarcophagus” is pronounced sah-KO-fuh-guhs (/sɑɹˈkɑfəɡəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “sarcophagus” in a sentence?
Here is “sarcophagus” used in a sentence: “The pharaoh's sarcophagus was covered in gold hieroglyphics.”
What part of speech is “sarcophagus”?
“Sarcophagus” is a noun.
Where does the word “sarcophagus” come from?
The word “sarcophagus” comes from Latin. From Latin "sarcophagus," from Greek "sarkophagos," literally "flesh-eating" — originally describing a type of limestone believed to dissolve the flesh of corpses, later used for stone coffins.
How many meanings does “sarcophagus” have?
“Sarcophagus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a stone coffin, often elaborately carved or inscribed, used especially in ancient burial customs.
