dome
DOHM
/doʊm/
A rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure, typically with a circular base.
A three-dimensional hemispherical or elliptical structural shell spanning circular or polygonal spaces.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to Latin 'domus' (home). In Italian, major cathedrals came to be known as 'il Duomo' (the House of God). Because these magnificent Italian cathedrals were overwhelmingly crowned with huge rounded roofs, English adopted 'dome' specifically for the hemispherical roof itself.
Word relationships
- cupola: A cupola is a small dome placed on top of a larger roof or dome, often functioning as a lookout or light shaft.
Commonly confused with
- rotunda: A rotunda is the entire round room inside a building, whereas the dome is specifically the curved circular ceiling/roof overhead.
Word family
- domed (adjective): Covered with or shaped like a dome.
Collocations
- geodesic dome
- glass dome
- soaring dome
- cathedral dome
Example sentences
- "The golden dome of the capitol building dominated the city's skyline." Architectural Landmarks
- "Light poured into the cathedral through a central oculus at the peak of the cavernous dome." Sacred Architecture
Memory hook
A dome looks like an upside-down bowl covering a house (domus). Dome = Rounded vaulted roof.
When not to use
Do not refer to flat ceilings or simple pitched gable roofs as domes.
Fun facts
- The Pantheon in Rome, completed in 126 AD, still holds the record as the world's largest unreinforced solid concrete dome.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.