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Mausoleum definition

Mau·so·leum (mô′sə lē′əm, mä′-; -zə-)

noun pl. mausoleums -·le′·ums

  1. the tomb of Mausolus, king of Caria, at Halicarnassus: included among the seven wonders of the ancient world
  2. a large, imposing tomb: humorously applied to any large, somber building or room
  3. a building with vaults for the entombment of a number of bodies

Etymology: L < Gr Mausōleion

Related Forms:

  • mausolean mau′·so·le′an (-ən) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Mausoleum Synonyms

mausoleum

n.

crypt, catacomb, tomb, sepulcher; see grave 1, memorial, monument 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Mausoleum Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • build: The churchyard contains an elegant classical mausoleum built in 1775 for members of the Bradshaw family.

Preposition: in

  • church: His descendants at Great Saxham have a mausoleum in the church there.

Adjective modifier

  • large: Martin Sheets wanted to make sure be would not be buried alive so he erected a large mausoleum in Highland Lawn Cemetery.

Noun used with modifier

  • marble: This amazing 17th century marble mausoleum was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his second wife, who died during childbirth.
Mausoleum usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

Mausoleum quotes

The light did him harm, but not as much as looking at things did; he resolved, having done it once, never to move his eyeballs again. A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum.

-Amis, Sir Kingsley

Mausoleum quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"Mausoleum." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/mausoleum>

APA Style

Mausoleum. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/mausoleum

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