Definition of basilica Basilica

/bʌsɪˈlɪkʌ/ - [busiliku] - ba•sil•i•ca

We found 13 definitions of basilica from 7 different sources.

What does basilica mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: basilicas
basilica - an early Christian church designed like a Roman basilica; or a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges; "the church was raised to the rank of basilica"
		church building, church a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty"
basilica - a Roman building used for public administration
		Roman basilica
		roman building a building constructed by the ancient Romans

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Wiktionary

basilica (Noun)
A Christian church building having a nave with a semicircular apse, side aisles, a narthex and a clerestory.
basilica (Noun)
A Roman Catholic church or cathedral with basilican status.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

basilica (n.)
Originally, the place of a king; but afterward, an apartment provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies were held for dispensing justice; and hence, any large hall used for this purpose.
basilica (n.)
A building used by the Romans as a place of public meeting, with court rooms, etc., attached.
basilica (n.)
A church building of the earlier centuries of Christianity, the plan of which was taken from the basilica of the Romans. The name is still applied to some churches by way of honorary distinction.
basilica (n.)
A digest of the laws of Justinian, translated from the original Latin into Greek, by order of Basil I., in the ninth century.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

basilica
In the Roman architecture a rectangular building, divided into aisles by rows of columns, intended for public functions (trade, administration of justice etc.); also used for meetings of the early Christian communities
basilica
Church of considerable importance.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

basilica
baz-il′ik-a, n. among the Romans, a large oblong hall, with double colonnades and a semicircular apse at the end, used for judicial and commercial purposes—many of them were afterwards converted into Christian churches: a magnificent church built after the plan of the ancient basilica.—adj. Basil′ican. [L. basilica, Gr. basilikē (oikia, a house), belonging to a king, from basileus, a king.]

Wikipedia

A basilica is a large, important church. The word can also be used for an Ancient Roman building that was used for law and meetings. The word "basilica" is Latin which was taken from the Greek "Basiliké Stoà".

Ancient Rome.

A Roman basilica was a large hall built for meetings, business and law. A Roman basilica usually had the doors at the long sides of the building. At each end was a semi-circular part where the judges sat. The building usually had two rows of columns, which made a high central part and a lower aisle on either side. The light came in from windows above the columns. As the Roman Empire spread, every city had a basilica.

Early Christian basilicas.

Early in the 4th century AD (300s), the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the legal religion of the Roman Empire. The Christians who had been worshipping secretly in private houses now wanted to build churches. They didn't want the churches to look the same as Roman Temples. They built them to look more like Roman Basilicas. A basilica was a good plan for a Christian church because lots of people could fit inside, and the aisles were useful for people to move around. The semi-circular part at one end, the "apse", was just right to put the altar. Christian basilicas usually have the door at one end, rather than at the side. In front of the door there was often a courtyard called an "atrium". Most of these atriums have gone, but churches often have a town square or a market place in front of them.

Some of the