Cemetery Meaning
/ˈsɛm.ɪˌtɹi/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA place where the dead are buried; a graveyard or memorial park.
Sentence Examples
I buried my dog at the pet cemetery.
J.F. Kennedy was buried in Arlington Cemetery.
He was buried in a private cemetery.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Every November, families visit the local ____ to place flowers on their ancestors' graves.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We visited the local ____ to pay our respects to our ancestors today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English cimiterie, from Old French cimitiere, from Medieval Latin cimitērium, from Late Latin coemētērium, from Ancient Greek κοιμητήριον (koimētḗrion), from κοιμάω (koimáō, “I put to sleep”); compare cœmeterium. Displaced Middle English charnel (“mass grave, cemetery”) and Old English līctūn (“cemetery”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The plain around was interspersed with cemeteries, Turk, Greek, and Armenian, with their growth of cypress trees..."
— 1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter II, in The Last Man. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC:
"They were probably the work of individual craftsmen working to meet the chieftains' needs. Their place in the chronology of the big cemeteries is indicated by the less richly-decorated double-springed bronze brooches which are found here."
— 1970, Kazimierz Godłowski, “The chronology of the Late Roman and early migration periods in Central Europe”, in Acta scientiarum litterarumque: Schedae archeologicae, Nakładem Uniwersytetu Jagiellonśkiego, page 22:
"[…] the cemetery – which people of shattering wit like Sampson never tired of calling ‘the dead centre of town’ […]"
— 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section III, page 26:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Every November, families visit the local ____ to place flowers on their ancestors' graves.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We visited the local ____ to pay our respects to our ancestors today.