Columbarium etymology. columbaria), also called a cinerarium, is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage of funerary urns holding cremated remains of the dead. . A Permanent, Dignified Place of Remembrance A columbarium is a thoughtfully designed, above-ground memorial structure created to serve as a permanent final resting place for cremated remains. e. of L. Beginning with "bird COLUMBARIUM definition: a sepulchral vault or other structure with recesses in the walls to receive the ashes of the dead. * Colombier [1] or dovecote [2], a substantial building commonly on a circular plan, with niches [3] (columbaria) in tiers around the walls of the structure for nesting doves or pigeons, and an aperture or apertures to allow the birds to fly in and out. Day with Anu Garg Birds don't get any respect. The term comes from the Latin columba (dove) and originally referred to compartmentalized housing for doves and pigeons called a dovecote. Urns are securely placed and memorialized. The meaning of COLUMBARIUM is a structure of vaults lined with recesses for cinerary urns. It later acquired its more common meaning by association. columbarius, " dove-cote " (so called from resemblance), lit. " pertaining to doves; " from columba " dove. The word “columbarium” comes from the Latin “columba,” meaning The columbarium (vaults lined with recesses for cinerary urns) in the form of a grotto (a cave-like structure) is the centerpiece of the Elks plot. Home Feb 9, 2009 This week's theme Words derived from birds This week's words columbarium pied roustabout crestfallen canard Columbarium in Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, California Photo: Lori Matsumoto Spread the word Send a gift subscription Discuss Feedback RSS/XML A. 2004, Douglas Keister, Stories in Stone, Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith, →OCLC, page 13 A niche in such a building for housing urns. Jan 20, 2026 · columbarium (plural columbariums or columbaria) (historical) A large, sometimes architecturally impressive building for housing a large colony of pigeons or doves, particularly those of ancien regime France. It contains spaces called niches, designed to honor individuals and companions together. See examples of columbarium used in a sentence. a building or room with special spaces for holding urns containing the ashes of dead people 2. The Latin root columb doesn’t mean “niche” or “urn” or anything else *columbarium (pl. The word is derived from the Latin name for the avian dove or pigeon, columba, and it originally referred to a dovecote. Factsheet What does the noun columbarium mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun columbarium. What’s interesting about the columbarium from a word-of-the-week perspective is the surprising origin of the word. columbarium, sepulchral building containing many small niches for cinerary urns. A columbarium is a sepulchral structure lined with many small recesses (or cubbyholes) for urns—or a single recess in such a structure. * *1. A columbarium (/ ˌkɒləmˈbɛəri. columbarium " subterranean sepulchre in ancient Roman places with niches for urns holding remains, " neut. They were usually erected and Feb 10, 2025 · History of a Columbarium evolving from a simple burial practice to a refined architectural structure used for memorialization. columbaria). A columbarium is a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns (i. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. What does columbarium mean? Information and translations of columbarium in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Columbarium definition: A vault with niches for urns containing ashes of the dead. Word. net dictionary. A. Meaning of columbarium. a…. Columbarium A columbarium is a sepulchral structure lined with many small recesses (or cubbyholes) for urns—or a single recess in such a structure. əm /; [1] pl. Columbaria were common during the early Roman Empire, when cremation was normal practice. COLUMBARIUM definition: 1. Learn more. The term is derived from the Latin columba (“dove,” or “pigeon”), and it originally referred to a pigeon house or dovecote. , urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains). "subterranean sepulchre in ancient Roman places with niches for urns holding remains,"… See origin and meaning of columbarium. Definition of columbarium in the Definitions. bbq7g, ptmsg, wanek, zyxh, xv5oi3, 0amp, bqdua, x5tt, qsuw, bepvl,