columbarium

• Substantif désignant un édifice ou une salle comportant des niches murales destinées à recevoir des urnes cinéraires contenant les cendres des défunts, ou, historiquement, un colombier ou un petit bâtiment pour les pigeons.

A noun referring to a structure or room with recesses in the walls to hold cinerary urns containing the ashes of the cremated dead, or historically a dovecote or birdhouse for pigeons.

pluriel irrégulier

1. Pigeon houseC2formal

   A structure or building designed to house pigeons or doves.

   Colombier

   • The old estate had a large columbarium for its messenger pigeons.
   • Pigeons were kept in the columbarium behind the manor.
   • The columbarium was built from stone to protect the birds from predators.

   Synonymescolumbarydovecote

2. Funerary nicheC2formal

   A recess or compartment in a wall, designed to hold an urn containing the ashes of a cremated person.

   Columbarium (niche funéraire)

   • The family placed the urn in a columbarium at the cemetery.
   • The columbarium wall was lined with marble niches for urns.
   • She visited the columbarium to pay respects to her ancestors.

3. Sepulchral vaultC2formal

   A vault or building with recesses in the walls to receive cinerary urns, often part of a larger burial site.

   Colombarium (sépulcre)

   • The ancient columbarium contained hundreds of urns from the Roman era.
   • The columbarium was built as a communal resting place for the cremated dead.
   • Archaeologists discovered a well-preserved columbarium beneath the city.

   Synonymescinerarium