dome

1 of 2

noun

1
archaic : a stately building : mansion
2
: a large hemispherical roof or ceiling
3
: a natural formation or structure that resembles the dome or cupola of a building
4
: a form of crystal composed of planes parallel to a lateral axis that meet above in a horizontal edge like a roof
5
: an upward fold in rock whose sides dip uniformly in all directions
6
: a roofed sports stadium
7
: a person's head
domal adjective

dome

2 of 2

verb

domed; doming

transitive verb

1
: to cover with a dome
2
: to form into a dome

intransitive verb

: to swell upward or outward like a dome

Examples of dome in a Sentence

Noun the dome of the Capitol building The team's new stadium is a dome.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Explosions of color all around the iconic dome that’s hosting its 11th edition of the Super Bowl – those New Orleans mainstays of purple, green and yellow – make up for the dimness. Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 4 Feb. 2025 The German composer’s works are brought to life by his band and an orchestra at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, the Al Wasl Plaza dome at Expo City Dubai and other venues. Paul Grein, Billboard, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
The flames are visible for miles down the city’s famous coastline, a half-moon crescent of sand that is usually domed by blue sky. The Staff Of The Morning, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 There is also more space surrounding each muffin top, allowing room for the muffins to dome up and bloom into temptingly round muffin tops. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for dome 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, Italian, & Latin; French dôme dome, cathedral, from Italian duomo cathedral, from Medieval Latin domus church, from Latin, house; akin to Greek domos house, Sanskrit dam

First Known Use

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dome was in 1513

Dictionary Entries Near dome

Cite this Entry

“Dome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dome. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

dome

1 of 2 noun
1
: a large rounded roof or ceiling shaped like half of a ball
2
: a structure or natural formation that resembles the dome of a building
rock domes
3
: a roofed sports stadium

dome

2 of 2 verb
domed; doming
1
: to cover with or as if with a dome
2
: to form into or swell upward or outward like a dome
Etymology

Noun

from French dôme "mansion, cathedral" and Italian duomo "cathedral" and Latin domus "church," from earlier Latin domus "house" — related to domestic, domicile

Medical Definition

dome

noun
: a rounded-arch element in the wave tracing in an electroencephalogram
the spike and dome pattern characteristic of absence seizures

More from Merriam-Webster on dome

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