basilica

/bəˈzɪlɪkə/ (bre, ipa) · [bəsˈɪlɪkə] /bəˈzɪlɪkə/ (ame, ipa) · [bəsˈɪlɪkə] /bə-ˈsi-li-kə How to pronounce basilica (audio) also -ˈzi-/ (ame, mw)

basilica — noun

  • basilicasingular
  • basilicasplural

1. a large hall in ancient Rome used for public business or meetings, or a very lar

1.名詞C2
釋義

a large hall in ancient Rome used for public business or meetings, or a very large Christian church built with the same basic layout.

例句

The guide showed Quinn the old basilica where Roman judges once met.

basilica + where + public activity in ancient Rome

Tourists lined up outside the basilica before the Easter morning service.

同義詞
  • church

    a broad everyday word for a Christian place of worship, not a specific architectural or honor label

  • cathedral

    a church that is the seat of a bishop; a basilica may be important without being a cathedral

  • hall

    fits the ancient Roman public-building side, but not the later church meaning

用法筆記

In history texts, this word often names a Roman public hall. In modern church contexts, it usually refers to a large church of the same basic design, and in Roman Catholic use it can also signal a church with special honor status.

常見錯誤

❌Every small village church is a basilica.
✅Some village churches are churches, but only a few have basilica design or status.
💡'Basilica' is not a general word for any Christian church.