Apsis
/ˈæpsɪs/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A recess or projection, with a dome or vault, at the east end of a church.
"Like Henry's collegiate church […] the cathedral is a cruciform basilica of the double bay system with four square bays in the central nave, western transoms, a quadrum for the choir, an apsis, and a transept with auxiliary apses."
- 2 a domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church; usually contains the altar wordnet
- 3 Either of the points in the elliptical orbit of a planet, comet, or moon where it is closest or furthest from the body it orbits; examples are perihelion, aphelion, perigee, and apogee.
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Like Henry's collegiate church […] the cathedral is a cruciform basilica of the double bay system with four square bays in the central nave, western transoms, a quadrum for the choir, an apsis, and a transept with auxiliary apses."
Etymology
From Latin apsis, hapsis, from Ancient Greek ἁψίς (hapsís, “arch, vault”). See also apse.