Definition

Proper noun 1. A specific mausoleum: The Taj Mahal is a famous and architecturally significant white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and is considered a masterpiece of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The Taj Mahal is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
  • We visited the Taj Mahal at sunrise to see its beautiful color.
  • Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a symbol of his love.

Advanced Usage

• As a symbol: The name "Taj Mahal" is often used metaphorically to represent an ideal of beauty, perfection, or enduring love.
  • He promised to build her a Taj Mahal, a testament to his feelings.
• In comparative contexts: Used to describe something of exceptional beauty or grandeur.
  • The new library is the architectural Taj Mahal of the university.

Variants and Related Words

• Mausoleum (n): A large, stately tomb or a building housing tombs.
• Monument (n): A structure erected to commemorate a person or event.
• Mughal architecture (n): The distinctive architectural style developed by the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent.

Synonyms

• Mausoleum
• Monument
• Wonder (as in a wonder of the world)

Idioms and Common Phrases

• A Taj Mahal: Used informally to describe a project or object that is extravagantly expensive, elaborate, or built as a grand gesture.
  • The new corporate headquarters is a real Taj Mahal, with marble floors and gold fixtures.

Noun

1. beautiful mausoleum at Agra built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan (completed in 1649) in memory of his favorite wife