ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dome

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdoʊm// UK //dˈəʊm// dome Archaic Informal Literary Slang

n. a rounded roof that looks like half of a ball. You often see this shape on top of famous buildings like churches or government offices.

n. a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure, typically with a circular or polygonal base. Often used metaphorically in literary contexts to describe the sky or the human head.


SIMPLE

The golden dome of the cathedral shines in the sun.

CONTEXTUAL

The architect designed a massive glass dome to allow natural light into the center of the shopping mall.

COMPLEX

The stadium's retractable dome allows for year-round events, protecting spectators from the harsh winter elements while maintaining an open-air atmosphere during the summer months.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French dome, domme (modern French dôme), from Italian duomo, from Latin domus (ecclesiae) (literally “house (of the church)”), a calque of Ancient Greek οἶκος τῆς ἐκκλησίας (oîkos tês ekklēsías). Doublet of domus and duomo.

Usage

Commonly used in architectural descriptions; in informal slang, it can refer to a person's head.

Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference