necropolis
Other forms: necropolises
Use the noun necropolis to talk about a cemetery, especially an ancient, historical burying ground. You are more likely to find King Tut in a necropolis than your Great Aunt Edna.
Any graveyard can be called a necropolis, but the word is best used to describe a very large burying ground made up of tombs, or the ancient grave site of a famous or powerful historical figure. The pyramid at Giza, in Egypt, is an example of a necropolis — it's the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh. In Latin, necropolis literally means "city of the dead," from the Greek burial site Nekropolis.
-
a tract of land used for burials
-
synonyms:
burial ground, burial site, burying ground, cemetery, graveyard, memorial park
-
types:
-
potter's field
a cemetery for unknown or indigent people
-
potter's field
Vocabulary lists containing necropolis
Stories about a more normal 2021, the discovery of "a prehistoric Sistine Chapel," and exciting news for Nintendo fans all contributed words to this week's roundup of vocabulary from the top news.
Journalist Osha Gray Davidson traces the battle to integrate the schools in Durham, North Carolina in the 1960s, focusing on the unlikely friendship between a civil rights activist and a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
An orphan living in ancient Egypt, twelve-year-old Ranofer dreams of becoming a master goldsmith — but instead he must work at menial jobs for his cruel half-brother. When Ranofer discovers a stolen goblet in his brother's possession, he believes he may have a chance at a new life.
Look up necropolis for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
