dome

A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a matter of controversy and there are a wide variety of forms and specialized terms to describe them.

AI overview

A dome is a curved, bowl-shaped architectural structure that resembles the upper half of a hollow sphere and is used to cover or top buildings. Because domes can take many different forms and serve various purposes, there has been ongoing debate about how exactly to define them, and architects use specialized terms to describe their different types.

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Wikidata facts

Image: Spb 06-2017 img07 Trinity Cathedral.jpg

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exact match: wordnet-rdf.princeton.edu/wn31/103205298-n
Commons category: Domes
Commons gallery: Dome
OpenStreetMap tag: tower:construction=dome

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~74 min read

Article

39 sections

Contents

Etymology
Definitions
Elements
Materials
Shapes and internal forces
Symbolism
Acoustics
Types
Beehive dome
Braced dome
Cloister vault
Compound dome
Crossed-arch dome
Ellipsoidal dome
Geodesic dome
Hemispherical dome
Bulbous domes and onion domes
Oval dome
Paraboloid dome
Sail dome
Saucer dome
Umbrella dome
History
Early history and simple domes
East Asian domes
Roman and Byzantine domes
Persian domes
Arabic and Western European domes
Russian domes
Ukrainian domes
Ottoman domes
Italian Renaissance domes
South Asian domes
Early modern domes
Modern period domes
See also
Excerpts
References
Bibliography

A dome can rest directly upon a rotunda wall, a drum, or a system of squinches or pendentives used to accommodate the transition in shape from a rectangular or square space to the round or polygonal base of the dome. The dome's apex may be closed or may be open in the form of an oculus, which may itself be covered with a roof lantern and cupola.