Cathedral
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
Definitions
The principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's throne.
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
A large, important church, usually the main church of a diocese.
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a world-famous landmark.
💡 Simply: It's a really big and important church, often the most important one in a whole area.
👶 For kids: It's a super big church where the boss of all the churches in the area sits.
More Examples
The cathedral's bells rang out across the city.
How It's Used
"The city's magnificent cathedral was a stunning example of Gothic architecture."
"Tourists flocked to visit the famous cathedral, admiring its intricate stained-glass windows."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Old French cathedrale, from Late Latin cathedrālis, from Latin cathedra ('seat', 'chair'), ultimately from Greek kathedra ('seat'). Originally referring to the church where a bishop had his seat.
The word 'cathedral' has been used consistently to refer to the bishop's church since the Middle Ages, reflecting the importance of the bishop's authority within the Christian church.
Memory tip
Think 'cathedra' (seat) – the cathedral is where the bishop sits.
Word Origin
"cathedra (seat)"