Word
basilica
Phoneticsbasil·i·ca
US/bəˈsɪɫɪkə/
UK/bæzˈɪlɪkɐ/
Definition
n. a large and important church building, often built with a long central hall and a curved end. It is also a special title given by the Pope to certain historic or holy churches.
n. a large, oblong building with a double colonnade and a semicircular apse, originally used in ancient Rome as a court of law. In ecclesiastical contexts, it refers to a church granted special ceremonial privileges by the Pope.
Examples
“The tourists visited the ancient basilica in the center of the city.”
“St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City attracts millions of pilgrims and art lovers every year.”
“The architect studied the transition from the Roman civic basilica to the early Christian cruciform church to understand how public spaces evolved into sacred ones.”
Examples
simple
“The tourists visited the ancient basilica in the center of the city.”
contextual
“St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City attracts millions of pilgrims and art lovers every year.”
complex
“The architect studied the transition from the Roman civic basilica to the early Christian cruciform church to understand how public spaces evolved into sacred ones.”
Usage
Often used as a proper noun when referring to a specific building, such as St. Mark's Basilica.
Real-World Examples
“Hindus light candles at Mount Mary, a Catholic basilica overlooking the city.” Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/basilica