A
dome (from
Latin:
domus) is an architectural element that resembles the hollow upper half of a
sphere. The precise definition has been a matter of controversy. There are also a wide variety of forms and specialized terms to describe them. A dome can rest upon a
rotunda or
drum, and can be supported by
columns or
piers that transition to the dome through
squinches or
pendentives. A
lantern may cover an
oculus and may itself have
another dome.