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basilica
[ buh-sil-i-kuh, -zil- ]
noun
- an early Christian or medieval church of the type built especially in Italy, characterized by a plan including a nave, two or four side aisles, a semicircular apse, a narthex, and often other features, as a short transept, a number of small semicircular apses terminating the aisles, or an atrium. The interior is characterized by strong horizontality, with little or no attempt at rhythmic accents. All spaces are usually covered with timber roofs or ceilings except for the apse or apses, which are vaulted.
- one of the seven main churches of Rome or another Roman Catholic church accorded the same religious privileges.
- (in ancient Rome) a large oblong building used as a hall of justice and public meeting place.
basilica
/ bəˈzɪlɪkə /
noun
- a Roman building, used for public administration, having a large rectangular central nave with an aisle on each side and an apse at the end
- a rectangular early Christian or medieval church, usually having a nave with clerestories, two or four aisles, one or more vaulted apses, and a timber roof
- a Roman Catholic church having special ceremonial rights
basilica
- A large Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church building. A basilica is built with several parallel aisles separated by rows of columns, ending in a semicircular structure, the apse. Saint Peter's Basilica is the church of the Vatican in Rome .
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Derived Forms
- baˈsilican, adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of basilica1
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Example Sentences
At the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast Washington, the largest Catholic church building in North America, the cafeteria that would normally host close to 1,000 people on Christmas was empty.
What Francis said to Law when the two of them met and briefly embraced at the Rome basilica is not known.
The basilica is one of a handful of churches outside the walls of Vatican City owned by the Holy See.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a church where the faithful come to pray for cures.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is not the biggest church in Boston, but it has two pieces of history.
A stately basilica was erected over the entrance to the Catacomb, it is said in the time of Constantine.
This is situated near the basilica of St. Agnes, and overlies part of the Catacomb.
The Callevan Forum seems in general simpler than others, but its basilica is remarkably large.
The Duomo is a basilica with nave and double aisles , with 110a transept flanked with aisles, covered by a dome over the crossing.
It is of basilica form, with a nave and aisles flanked by sixteen columns of sandstone.
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