Dome Definition, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：a rounded roof (dome)

dome 🔊

/doʊm/

A roof that is shaped like the top half of a ball, often seen on old churches or special buildings.

Dome architecture diagram showing a grand, circular roof structure with intricate details.

a rounded roof 🔊

➕

/ə ˈraʊndɪd ruːf/

A hemispherical or vaulted roof structure, typically found on significant buildings such as churches, capitols, and museums.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'domus' meaning house, evolving to denote a rounded architectural roof.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'dome' as 'home' with a rounded top, like a protective shell over a building.

📖 Example

We looked up at the huge dome of the ancient church, painted with stars and clouds. 🔊 We gazed upward at the massive rounded roof of the old church, adorned with depictions of stars and clouds.

🔗 Collocations

geodesic dome – a spherical structure composed of interconnected triangular elements

dome light – a ceiling-mounted light fixture in vehicles or rooms

dome stadium – a sports arena featuring a domed roof for weather protection

🔄 Synonyms

cupola (n.) – a small dome, often decorative, atop a roof or building

vault (n.) – an arched roof or ceiling, structurally similar to a dome

rotunda (n.) – a circular building or room, frequently capped with a dome

🚫 Antonyms

flat roof (n.) – a roof with a level surface, contrasting in shape to a dome

🌱 Derivatives

domed (adj.) – having the shape or structure of a dome

domical (adj.) – relating to or resembling a dome in form

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'domus' (house), via Italian 'duomo' (cathedral), reflecting its use in grand religious and governmental buildings since the Renaissance.