Meaning & use
mausoleums
Last updated
“mausoleums” is a form of “mausoleum”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nouncountable
Large, impressive buildings used as tombs, especially for important people or families.
Grammar: Countable noun; the singular is 'mausoleum'. Use 'a mausoleum' for one, 'mausoleums' for more than one.
Patterns
- a mausoleum for someone
- build a mausoleum
- be buried in a mausoleum
The ancient kings were buried in grand mausoleums.
Tourists visit the mausoleums to see the detailed stone carvings.
The family built a private mausoleum on the hill.
Word forms
| singular | mausoleum |
|---|
Common combinations
- ancient mausoleum
- The ancient mausoleum has stood for over two thousand years.
- marble mausoleum
- The marble mausoleum gleamed in the sunlight.
- royal mausoleum
- The royal mausoleum contains the tombs of several kings.
- visit a mausoleum
- We visited the mausoleum of the famous poet.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tomb
- A tomb is a burial place, often a grave or a small structure; a mausoleum is a large, building-like tomb.
- crypt
- A crypt is an underground room, usually beneath a church, used for burial; a mausoleum is above ground and often grand.
- sepulcher
- Sepulcher is a formal or literary word for a tomb, especially a carved one; mausoleum is more specific and common.
Word family
- mausoleum noun
- The singular form, meaning one such building.
Practice
Which sentence uses the word 'mausoleums' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Mausoleums' is a plural noun meaning large tombs, so it fits in sentence A. The other options use it as a verb or with an unrelated meaning, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mausoleums”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.