catacomb
/'kætəkoum/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. An underground burial place: A catacomb is a subterranean cemetery consisting of a network of tunnels and galleries with recesses (loculi) carved into the walls to hold the dead. Historically, these were used extensively in ancient Rome and by early Christians.
Examples
- Archaeologists discovered ancient frescoes in the catacombs beneath the city.
- The early Christian catacombs of Rome are a significant historical site.
- Tours of the Paris catacombs take visitors through ossuaries lined with bones.
Advanced Usage
- "The catacombs of [place name]": A common phrase used to refer to specific, famous underground burial sites.
- We visited the catacombs of Paris, which hold the remains of millions.
- Figuratively, "catacomb" can describe any vast, dark, maze-like underground space, though this is a metaphorical extension.
- The old wine cellar felt like a catacomb, with its endless, dusty passages.
Variants and Related Words
- Catacumbal (adj): Pertaining to or resembling a catacomb. (Rare, technical)
- Crypt (n): An underground room or vault beneath a church, used as a chapel or burial place. (A related, often smaller, structure)
- Ossuary (n): A container or room for the bones of the dead, often found within catacombs.
- Hypogeum (n): An underground chamber, often used for burials. (A broader archaeological term)
Synonyms
- Underground cemetery
- Subterranean tomb
- Burial vault
- Crypt (in some contexts)
Related Phrases
- Network of catacombs: Emphasizes the extensive, interconnected tunnel system.
- A vast network of catacombs lies beneath the ancient capital.
Noun
- an underground tunnel with recesses where bodies were buried (as in ancient Rome)