basilica

n. type of early Christian church (mainly found in Italy); hall of justice, meeting hall (in ancient Rome)

The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa), was originally used to describe a Roman public building (as in Greece, mainly a tribunal), usually located at the center of a Roman town (forum). In Hellenistic cities, public basilicas appeared in the 2nd century BC.After the Roman Empire became officially Christian, the term came by extension to refer to a large and important church that has been given special ceremonial rites by the Pope. Thus the word retains two senses today, one architectural and the other ecclesiastical.
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Noun
1. 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"
(hypernym) church, church building
(part-meronym) narthex
2. a Roman building used for public administration
(hypernym) Roman building

n. basilica, type of early Christian church; hall of justice, meeting hall (in ancient Rome)

n. basilica

adj. basilic