rotunda

noun

ro·​tun·​da rō-ˈtən-də How to pronounce rotunda (audio)
1
: a round building
especially : one covered by a dome
2
a
: a large round room
b
: a large central area (as in a hotel)

Examples of rotunda in a Sentence

We stood inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Recent Examples on the Web Although your presence remains in the Country Music Hall of Fame — where, in its sacred rotunda, your plaque reminds visitors of your membership — much has changed. Jeremy Helligar, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024 That starts the moment guests step through the rotunda doors and pass through velvet curtains to find a library lounge instead of a reception desk. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024 The National Archives rotunda and galleries in Washington, D.C., closed to the public early on Wednesday afternoon after two apparent climate change protesters dumped red powder on the case holding the U.S. Constitution. Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 15 Feb. 2024 In one fraught moment, Mr. Adams’s staff sought to undermine Council leaders by trying to remove chairs during their news conference in the City Hall rotunda in support of the bills. Dana Rubinstein, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024 Officers interrupted the proceedings to announce that tear gas had been deployed in the Capitol rotunda. Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024 Tourists take pictures with a prisoner figurine sitting at a cafe table inside the rotunda. Leila Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 During the walk, the mountain’s historic Summit Visitor Center looms above along with its old navigation beacon, which sits atop the center’s stone rotunda and which Lindbergh helped to light. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024 Top of the Rock’s Osage Restaurant features a rotunda dining room with birch tree beams and bark on the ceiling. Sarah Gish, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rotunda.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian rotonda, from Latin rotunda, feminine of rotundus

First Known Use

circa 1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rotunda was circa 1566

Dictionary Entries Near rotunda

Cite this Entry

“Rotunda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotunda. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rotunda

noun
ro·​tun·​da rō-ˈtən-də How to pronounce rotunda (audio)
1
: a round building
especially : one covered by a dome
2
a
: a large round room
b
: a large central area (as in a hotel)

Medical Definition

rotunda

More from Merriam-Webster on rotunda

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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