col·um·bar·i·um

(kŏl′əm-bâr′ē-əm) also col·um·bar·y (kŏl′əm-bĕr′ē)

n. pl. col·um·bar·i·a (-ē-ə) also col·um·bar·ies

a. A vault with niches for urns containing ashes of the dead.

b. One of the niches in such a vault.

a. A dovecote.

b. A pigeonhole in a dovecote.

[Latin columbārium, sepulchre for urns, dovecote, from columba, dove.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

columbarium

(ˌkɒləmˈbɛərɪəm)

n, pl -ia (-ɪə)

1. (Architecture) another name for a dovecote

2. (Architecture) a vault having niches for funeral urns

3. (Building) a hole in a wall into which a beam is inserted

[C18: from Latin, from columba dove]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

col•um•bar•i•um

(ˌkɒl əmˈbɛər i əm)

n., pl. -bar•i•a (-ˈbɛər i ə)

1. a sepulchral vault or other structure with recesses in the walls to receive the ashes of the dead.

2. any one of these recesses.

[1840–50; < Latin: literally, a nesting box for pigeons <columb(a) pigeon, dove]

columbarium

a vault where the remains of cremated bodies are kept, usually in one of a number of recesses in a wall.

See also: Burial, Death

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	columbarium - a birdhouse for pigeons columbary, dovecote birdhouse - a shelter for birds
	2.	columbarium - a niche for a funeral urn containing the ashes of the cremated dead cinerarium niche, recess - an enclosure that is set back or indented
	3.	columbarium - a sepulchral vault or other structure having recesses in the walls to receive cinerary urns burial vault, vault - a burial chamber (usually underground)

Translations

колумбарий колумбарный

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Around him, and in groups, according to their fancy, lying in their mantles, or with their backs against a sort of stone bench, which went all round the columbarium, were to be seen twenty brigands or more, each having his carbine within reach.

Then, by the gleam of a lamp, similar to that which lighted the columbarium, Albert was to be seen wrapped up in a cloak which one of the bandits had lent him, lying in a corner in profound slumber.

View in context

The choice for families in Hong Kong is to buy one of the highly priced plots in private columbaria, or wait for four years for a plot in a public columbarium to become available.

Hong Kong is running out of space for its dead

Instead of being a new library or park building, it is actually a public columbarium. The newly built building has niches for funeral urns to be stored.

Columbarium in S. Taiwan mistaken as library due to its elegant design

Makati Mayor Abby Binay has announced that the city government will build a public columbarium offering free cremation and inurnment services to city residents.

Makati City to have free public columbarium, says Mayor Binay

A public columbarium offering free cremation and inurnment services to residents of Makati City is set to be built, the city's chief executive announced Thursday.

Makati City to build a public columbarium for residents

No, it's not a sick or morbid joke but the defense of a cemetery/columbarium developer who claims that their business remains in "limbo" because their columbarium can't complete the necessary documents to operate because under the National Building Code, a columbarium falls under the classification of "condominiums." Because of this, every "unit" or in this case every crypt technically speaking must have a counterpart parking space.

Parking for the departed?

Department of Veterans Affairs wants to acquire 15 acres near Mundhank and Freeman roads for the columbarium cemetery.

South Barrington pegged for extension of Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

The government buildings that will use the solar panels include CHIJ St Nicholas Girls Schools (elementary and junior high), Dunman Secondary School, CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh), CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh), Choa Chu Kang Columbarium and Changi Prison Complex.

Singapore to Install Solar Panels on 848 Apartments

Araneta's inurnment will be on Sunday, February 25, at the Saint Therese Columbarium, Newport Boulevard, Pasay City.

Valentin Araneta, 69, passes away

This is not as odd as it sounds as the urn containing her ashes was placed in a niche in a columbarium.

Happy memories with an invitation to dance