# rotunda

/ɹoʊˈtəndə/ (US) · /ɹˈɒtʌndɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rotunda
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a large, round room with a dome on top. You often find these in big buildings like museums or government offices.

For teachers: a large, circular room or hall, typically crowned by a dome. Often used in the context of public or institutional architecture.

## Examples

- The museum's rotunda is decorated with beautiful marble.
- Visitors gather in the central rotunda to admire the massive chandelier hanging from the glass ceiling.
- The architect designed the library's rotunda to serve as a grand entrance, ensuring that the circular space would provide a sense of scale and importance to the building's visitors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.