1. The principal church of a bishop's diocese, containing the episcopal throne.
2. A large, important church.
3. Something that resembles a cathedral, as in grandeur or authority.

1. Of, relating to, or containing a bishop's throne: a cathedral church.
2. Relating to or issuing from a chair of office or authority; authoritative.
3. Of, relating to, or resembling a cathedral: tall trees whose branches met to form cathedral arches over the path.

[Short for cathedral church, from Middle English cathedral, of a diocese, from Old French, from Medieval Latin cathedrālis, of a bishop's see, from Latin cathedra, chair. See cathedra.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.