cathedral
kuh-THEE-druhl
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
The principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's official throne.
In common usage, people use 'cathedral' to mean any large, grand church, but technically it must be the seat of a bishop.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Greek 'kathedra', meaning 'seat'. It refers specifically to the 'cathedra' or throne of the bishop. Without the bishop's chair, the building is just a large church.
Word relationships
- basilica: A basilica is a title given by the Pope to certain important churches; a cathedral is defined by the bishop's presence.
- minster: A minster was originally a church attached to a monastery, though some are now cathedrals (like York Minster).
- chapel: A chapel is a small place of worship, often part of a larger building, whereas a cathedral is the largest and most important.
Commonly confused with
- church: All cathedrals are churches, but not all churches are cathedrals.
Word family
- cathedrals (noun): Plural form.
Collocations
- Gothic cathedral
- medieval cathedral
- cathedral city
Example sentences
- "The Gothic cathedral featured soaring arches and intricate stained-glass windows that bathed the interior in light." Describing Gothic architecture.
- "The cathedral was a world of its own, a forest of stone pillars reaching toward the heavens." A literary description.
Memory hook
A cathedral is a 'cathedral' because it houses the 'cathedra' (the bishop's chair). Cathedral = Chair of the Bishop.
When not to use
Do not call a large church a cathedral if it is not the administrative center for a bishop.
Fun facts
- The term 'ex cathedra' (from the chair) means something said with full authority, referring to the bishop's throne.
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