Basilica vs. Cathedral

Basilicanoun

(architecture) A Christian church building having a nave with a semicircular apse, side aisles, a narthex and a clerestory.

Basilicanoun

A Roman Catholic church or cathedral with basilican status, a honorific status granted by the pope to recognize its historical, architectural, or sacramental importance.

Basilicanoun

(obsolete) An apartment provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies were held for dispensing justice; hence, any large hall used for this purpose.

Basilicanoun

Originally, the palace 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.

Basilicanoun

A building used by the Romans as a place of public meeting, with court rooms, etc., attached.

Basilicanoun

A digest of the laws of Justinian, translated from the original Latin into Greek, by order of Basil I., in the ninth century.

Basilicanoun

an early Christian church designed like a Roman basilica; or a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges;

Basilicanoun

a Roman building used for public administration

Basilica

In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East.

Cathedralnoun

A big church building, central place for some area.

Cathedralnoun

The principal church of an archbishop's/bishop's archdiocese/diocese which contains an episcopal throne.

Cathedralnoun

A large buttressed structure built by certain termites.

Cathedraladjective

Relating to the throne or the see of a bishop

Cathedralnoun

The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.

Cathedraladjective

Pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral church; cathedral service.

Cathedraladjective

Emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop; official; authoritative.

Cathedraladjective

Resembling the aisles of a cathedral; as, cathedral walks.

Cathedralnoun

any large and important church

Cathedralnoun

the principal Christian church building of a bishop's diocese

Cathedraladjective

relating to or containing or issuing from a bishop's office or throne;

Cathedral

A cathedral is a church that contains the cathedra (Latin for 'seat') of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of are usually specific to those Christian denominations with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and some Lutheran churches.