mausoleum
maw-zuh-LEE-um
/ˌmɔːzəˈliːəm/
A large, stately building housing a tomb or several tombs.
A mausoleum is more grand and permanent than a simple grave; it is often an architectural masterpiece.
The story behind the word. The word honors King Mausolus, whose massive tomb at Halicarnassus was so magnificent it was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. His name became the generic term for any grand tomb.
Word relationships
- tomb: A tomb is any place of burial, while a mausoleum is specifically a large, above-ground building.
- sepulcher: A sepulcher is often a small room or monument cut in rock, whereas a mausoleum is a free-standing building.
- cradle: A cradle is where life begins, while a mausoleum is where the physical remains of life are kept.
Commonly confused with
- cenotaph: A cenotaph is a monument to someone buried elsewhere; a mausoleum actually contains the body.
Word family
- mausoleums (noun): Plural form.
- mausolea (noun): Latinate plural form.
Collocations
- grand mausoleum
- imperial mausoleum
- family mausoleum
Example sentences
- "The Taj Mahal is perhaps the world's most beautiful mausoleum, built by an emperor for his beloved wife." Describing the Taj Mahal.
- "Without the children, the large mansion felt like a silent mausoleum." Describing a cold, empty house.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Museum' for the 'Soul'—a Mausoleum. Mausoleum = Mausolus's Monument.
When not to use
Do not use 'mausoleum' for a standard cemetery plot or a small headstone.
Fun facts
- The original Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was destroyed by earthquakes, but its name lives on in every grand tomb built since.
Explore more words
cenotaph, edifice, monument, memorial, veneration, imperishable
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