exedra

noun

ex·​e·​dra ˈek-sə-drə How to pronounce exedra (audio)
plural exedrae ˈek-sə-ˌdrē How to pronounce exedra (audio)
-ˌdrī
or exedras
1
: a room (as in a temple or house) in ancient Greece and Rome used for conversation and formed by an open or columned recess often semicircular in shape and furnished with seats
2
: a large outdoor nearly semicircular seat with a solid back

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek, from ex- + hedra seat — more at sit

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exedra was in 1659

Dictionary Entries Near exedra

Cite this Entry

“Exedra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exedra. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on exedra

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!