cathédrale

Definition & meaning

Cathédrale means cathedral: the principal church of a diocese, where a bishop has an official seat.

As an adjective, it means cathedral-like or describes something associated with a cathedral, especially its height or spaciousness.

Grammar & Word origin

• Noun: feminine — une cathédrale; plural: des cathédrales.
• Adjective: cathédrale can follow a noun, as in un plafond cathédrale.
• It comes from the Latin cathedra, meaning “seat” or “chair,” referring to the bishop’s official seat.

Synonyms & antonyms

• église ↗ — “church,” a broader term; not every church is a cathedral.
• basilique ↗ — “basilica,” a church with a particular honorary status or architectural form. A basilica is not necessarily a cathedral.

There is no direct antonym.

Common phrases & collocations

• cathédrale gothique ↗ — Gothic cathedral
• nef de la cathédrale ↗ — nave of the cathedral
• plafond cathédrale ↗ — cathedral ceiling, a high, often sloping ceiling