cemetery
/'semitri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A cemetery is a designated area of land where dead people are buried. It is a formal, often permanent, burial ground, typically with individual graves, tombs, or mausoleums. Cemeteries are usually maintained and may be associated with a church, a community, or be non-denominational.
Usage
The word "cemetery" is used to refer to the physical location for burial. It is a formal and respectful term. * The old cemetery on the hill has graves dating back to the 1700s. * After the funeral service, the procession went to the cemetery for the burial. * They placed flowers on the family plot in the cemetery.
Advanced Usage
- "to be sent to the cemetery": An informal or figurative way to say something is broken beyond repair or defeated.
- My old car finally broke down for good; it's been sent to the cemetery.
- Used in compound nouns to specify a type:
- A pet cemetery.
- A military cemetery.
Variants and Related Words
- Graveyard (noun): A synonym, often used interchangeably with "cemetery," though it can sometimes imply an older or smaller burial ground, especially one adjoining a church.
- Burial ground (noun): A more general term for any area of land used for burying the dead.
- Necropolis (noun): A large, ancient, or historic cemetery, often from an archaeological context (e.g., an ancient Egyptian necropolis).
- Churchyard (noun): The burial ground surrounding a church.
Synonyms
- Graveyard
- Burial ground
- Burying ground
- Memorial park (a modern, landscaped cemetery)
Antonyms
There is no direct antonym, but contrasting concepts include: * Nursery (a place for the living young) * Hospital (a place for the living ill)
Related Phrases and Idioms
- (As) quiet as a cemetery: Extremely quiet and still.
- The library at night was as quiet as a cemetery.
- Cemetery vote (U.S. political slang, derogatory): A fraudulent vote cast in the name of a deceased person.
- The election was marred by allegations of cemetery votes.
Noun
- a tract of land used for burials