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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Architecture A vaulted roof or ceiling.
  2. n. Architecture A small dome set on a circular or polygonal base or resting on pillars.
  3. n. Architecture A domelike structure surmounting a roof or dome, often used as a lookout or to admit light and air.
  4. n. A cylindrical shaft type of blast furnace used for remelting metals, usually iron, before casting.
  5. n. A small rounded and domed structure, as for observation, on a tracked, armored vehicle.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. In architecture, a vault, either hemispherical or produced by the revolution about its axis of two curves intersecting at the apex, or by a semi-ellipse covering a circular or polygonal area, and supported either upon four arches or upon solid walls. The Italian word signifies a hemispherical roof which covers a circular building, like the Pantheon at Rome or the temple of Vesta at Tivoli. Most modern cupolas are semi-elliptical, cut through their shortest diameter; but the greater number of ancient cupolas were hemispherical. In colloquial use, the cupola is often considered as a diminutive dome, or the name is specifically applied to a small structure rising above a roof and often having the character of a tower or lantern, and in no sense that of a dome.
  2. n. The round top of any structure, as of a furnace; the structure itself. See cupola-furnace. Specifically
  3. n. Milit., a revolving shot-proof turret, formed of strong timbers, and armored with massive iron plates. In some systems of cupolas the tower is erected on a base which is made to turn on its center by means of steam-power. Within the turret heavy ordnance is placed, and fired through openings in the sides. Farrow, Mil. Encye.
  4. n. In anatomy: The summit of the cochlea. The summit of an intestinal gland.
  5. n. In conchology, the so-called dorsal or visceral hump, made by the heap of viscera.

Wiktionary

  1. n. architecture A dome-shaped ornamental structure located on top of a larger roof or dome.
  2. n. military A small turret, usually on a hatch of an armoured fighting vehicle.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. (Arch.) A roof having a rounded form, hemispherical or nearly so; also, a ceiling having the same form. When on a large scale it is usually called dome.
  2. n. A small structure standing on the top of a dome; a lantern.
  3. n. A furnace for melting iron or other metals in large quantity, -- used chiefly in foundries and steel works.
  4. n. A revolving shot-proof turret for heavy ordnance.
  5. n. (Anat.) The top of the spire of the cochlea of the ear.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a vertical cylindrical furnace for melting iron for casting
  2. n. a roof in the form of dome

Etymologies

  1. From Italian cupola, from Latin cupula ("little tub"); from Latin cupa, cuppa ("cup"); named for its resemblance to a cup turned over. (Wiktionary)
  2. Italian, from Late Latin cūpula, diminutive of Latin cūpa, tub. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘cupola’.

Comments

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  • thtownse Now take "The Godfather", or "Apocalypse Now" - there's a good cupola movies. Mar 9, 2010

  • pterodactyl *groans in appreciation* May 6, 2008

  • thtownse I'm glad this word has been listed a cupola times. May 6, 2008

  • reesetee Named after Frances Ford Cupola, of course. ;-) Dec 29, 2007

  • widdershins Can also be architectural: "A cupola is a dome-shaped ornamental structure placed on the top of a larger roof or dome. In some cases, the entire main roof of a tower or spire can be a cupola. More frequently, however, the cupola is a smaller structure which sets on top of the main roof." Dec 22, 2007

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‘cupola’ has been looked up 2273 times, loved by 3 people, added to 22 lists, commented on 5 times, and has a Scrabble score of 10.