minaret
/'minəret/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A slender, tall tower that is part of a mosque, typically having one or more balconies from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer.
Usage
- The word minaret is used specifically to refer to the architectural feature of a mosque. It is a countable noun.
- Example: "The mosque's most striking feature was its four white minarets."
Examples
- Noun:
- The ancient minaret stood tall against the desert sky.
- From the minaret's balcony, the call to prayer echoed through the city.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural/Historical Context: Minarets are iconic symbols of Islamic architecture and have varied styles (e.g., Ottoman, Persian, Mughal).
- Example: "The spiral minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra is a famous example of Abbasid architecture."
Variants and Related Words
- Minareted (adj.): Describing a structure that has one or more minarets.
- Example: "It was a grand, minareted mosque."
Synonyms
- Tower: A general term for a tall, narrow structure. (Note: "minaret" is a specific type of tower with a religious function.)
- Spire: A tapering conical or pyramidal structure on top of a building, often on a church. (This is a distinct architectural feature from a minaret.)
Different Meanings
- The word minaret does not have other common meanings outside of its architectural and religious context.
Noun
- slender tower with balconies