rotunda

noun

ro·​tun·​da rō-ˈtən-də 

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

The façade and instantly recognizable rotunda were restored in collaboration with the Landmarks Preservation Commission of New York, and it’s connected to the new tower by way of a sweeping central lobby. —Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024

Jil Sander continued its pursuit of organic and rounded silhouettes that cocoon the body, which was presented in a rotunda enclosed by curved screens that exhibited the quiet beauty of the alpine peaks. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 20 Oct. 2024

The playful relaxation begins by making a wish at the wishing well in the grand bronze rotunda. —Paula Conway, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

But the little rotunda that's there is only to district residents. —Faith Salie, CBS News, 1 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian rotonda, from Latin rotunda, feminine of rotundus

First Known Use

circa 1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rotunda

• fenestra rotunda

Kids Definition

rotunda

noun

ro·​tun·​da rō-ˈtən-də 

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

see fenestra rotunda