noun Uncommon

urn

Urn (noun) means a decorative vase, often with a rounded body and narrow neck, set on a footed base. Example: “A stone urn stood at each side of the garden entrance.”

noun

A decorative vase, often with a rounded body and narrow neck, set on a footed base.

"A stone urn stood at each side of the garden entrance."

A container used to hold the ashes of someone who has been cremated.

"They scattered her ashes from the urn over the coastline she loved."

A large metal container used to brew or serve hot drinks like tea or coffee in bulk.

"The community hall kept a huge tea urn bubbling all afternoon."

How to use urn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA vase-shaped container — used for decoration, for holding cremated ashes, or for brewing large quantities of tea or coffee.

Common pairings

a funeral urn a tea urn an ornamental urn

Word forms

urned past tense, urns plural, urns singular

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A stone _____ stood at each side of the garden entrance.

Etymology

From Latin urna, "vessel."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for urn

burn turn churn spurn

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Frequently asked questions

What does “urn” mean?

The word “urn” means a decorative vase, often with a rounded body and narrow neck, set on a footed base. In plain terms, a vase-shaped container — used for decoration, for holding cremated ashes, or for brewing large quantities of tea or coffee.

How do you pronounce “urn”?

“Urn” is pronounced urn (/ɝn/ in IPA).

How do you use “urn” in a sentence?

Here is “urn” used in a sentence: “A stone urn stood at each side of the garden entrance.”

What part of speech is “urn”?

“Urn” is a noun.

Where does the word “urn” come from?

The word “urn” comes from Latin. From Latin urna, "vessel.".

Is “urn” a common word?

“Urn” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “urn” have?

“Urn” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a decorative vase, often with a rounded body and narrow neck, set on a footed base.

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