Dome vs. Vault — What's the Difference?

A dome (from Latin: domus) 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.

An arched structure, usually of masonry or concrete, serving to cover a space.

A roof or vault having a circular, polygonal, or elliptical base and a generally hemispherical or semispherical shape.

An arched overhead covering, such as the sky, that resembles the architectural structure in form.

A geodesic dome.

A room or space, such as a cellar or storeroom, with an arched ceiling, especially when underground.

A domelike structure or object.

A room or compartment, often built of steel, for the safekeeping of valuables

A system of strata that is uplifted in the center, forming a concentric anticline.

A burial chamber, especially when underground.

A mass of granite that has been weathered into a rounded shape by exfoliation.

(Anatomy) An arched part of the body, especially the top part of the skull.

A mound formed by the extrusion of viscous lava from a volcano.

The act of vaulting; a jump.

(Chemistry) A form of crystal with two similarly inclined faces that meet at an edge parallel to the horizontal axis.

A piece of gymnastic equipment with an upholstered body used especially for vaulting. Also called vaulting horse.

(Slang) The human head.

To construct or supply with an arched ceiling; cover with a vault.

(Archaic) A large, stately building.

To build or make in the shape of a vault; arch.

To cover with or as if with a dome.

To jump or leap over, especially with the aid of a support such as the hands or a pole.

To shape like a dome.

To jump or leap, especially with the use of the hands or a pole.

To rise or swell into the shape of a dome.

To accomplish something suddenly or vigorously

(architecture) A structural element resembling the hollow upper half of a sphere.

An arched masonry structure supporting and forming a ceiling, whether freestanding or forming part of a larger building.

(by extension) Anything shaped like an upset bowl, often used as a cover.

Any arched ceiling or roof.

(informal) A person's head.

Anything resembling such a downward-facing concave structure, particularly the sky and caves.

(slang) head, oral sex

The space covered by an arched roof, particularly underground rooms and church crypts.

A building; a house; an edifice.

Any cellar or underground storeroom.

(by extension) Any erection resembling the dome or cupola of a building, such as the upper part of a furnace, the vertical steam chamber on the top of a boiler, etc.

Any burial chamber, particularly those underground.

(crystallography) A prism formed by planes parallel to a lateral axis which meet above in a horizontal edge, like the roof of a house; also, one of the planes of such a form.

The secure room or rooms in or below a bank used to store currency and other valuables; similar rooms in other settings.

(geology) A geological feature consisting of symmetrical anticlines that intersect where each one reaches its apex.

Any archive of past content.

(transitive) To give a domed shape to.

(computing) An encrypted digital archive.

To shoot in the head.

An underground or covered conduit for water or waste; a drain; a sewer.

To perform fellatio on.

An underground or covered reservoir for water or waste; a cistern; a cesspit.

A building; a house; an edifice; - used chiefly in poetry.

A room employing a cesspit or sewer: an outhouse; a lavatory.

A cupola formed on a large scale.

An act of vaulting, formerly by deer; a leap or jump.

Any erection resembling the dome or cupola of a building; as the upper part of a furnace, the vertical steam chamber on the top of a boiler, etc.

(gymnastics) A piece of apparatus used for performing jumps.

A prism formed by planes parallel to a lateral axis which meet above in a horizontal edge, like the roof of a house; also, one of the planes of such a form.

(gymnastics) A gymnastic movement performed on this apparatus.

Decision; judgment; opinion; a court decision.

(equestrianism) volte: a circular movement by the horse.

A concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward

(gymnastics) An event or performance involving a vaulting horse.

Informal terms for a human head

(transitive) To build as, or cover with a vault.

A stadium that has a roof

(ambitransitive) To jump or leap over.

A hemispherical roof

An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.

An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar.

The canopy of heaven; the sky.

A leap or bound.

To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as, to vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court.

To leap over; esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole; as, to vault a fence.

To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.

To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.

A burial chamber (usually underground)

A strongroom or compartment (often made of steel) for safekeeping of valuables

An arched brick or stone ceiling or roof

The act of jumping over an obstacle

Jump across or leap over (an obstacle)

Bound vigorously