Adjacent Words

Nave definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

NAVE, n.
1. The thick piece of timber in the center of a wheel, in which the spokes are inserted; called also the hob.
2. The middle or body of a church extending from the balluster or rail of the door, to the chief choir.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the central area of a church

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nafu; akin to Old English nafela navel Date: before 12th century the hub of a wheel II. noun Etymology: Medieval Latin navis, from Latin, ship; akin to Old English n?wend sailor, Greek naus ship, Sanskrit nau Date: 1673 the main part of the interior of a church; especially the long narrow central hall in a cruciform church that rises higher than the aisles flanking it to form a clerestory

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. the central part of a church, usu. from the west door to the chancel and excluding the side aisles. Etymology: med.L navis f. L navis ship 2. n. the hub of a wheel. Etymology: OE nafu, nafa f. Gmc, rel. to NAVEL

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nave Nave, n. [F. nef, fr. L. navis ship, to which the church was often likened; akin to Gr. nay`archo`s, Skr. n[=a]us, and perh. to AS. naca boat, G. nachen, Icel. n["o]kkvi; cf. L. nare to swim, float. Cf. Nausea, Nautical, Naval.] (Arch.) The middle or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal entrances, or, if there are no transepts, from the choir to the principal entrance, but not including the aisles.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nave Nave (n[=a]v), n. [AS. nafu; akin to D. naaf, G. nabe, OHG. naba, Icel. n["o]f, Dan. nav, Sw. naf, Skr. n[=a]bhi nave and navel: cf. L. umbo boss of a shield. [root]260. Cf. Navel.] 1. The block in the center of a wheel, from which the spokes radiate, and through which the axle passes; -- called also hub or hob. 2. The navel. [Obs.] --hak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(naves) The nave of a church is the long central part where people gather to worship. N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

Easter sepulcher, ambry, apse, arbor, axis, axle, axle bar, axle shaft, axle spindle, axle-tree, baptistery, blindstory, center, center of action, center of gravity, centroid, centrum, chancel, choir, cloisters, confessional, confessionary, core, crypt, dead center, diaconicon, diaconicum, distaff, epicenter, fulcrum, gimbal, gudgeon, heart, hinge, hingle, hub, kernel, mandrel, marrow, medulla, metacenter, middle, navel, nub, nucleus, oarlock, omphalos, pin, pintle, pith, pivot, pole, porch, presbytery, radiant, rood loft, rood stair, rood tower, rowlock, sacrarium, sacristy, spindle, storm center, swivel, transept, triforium, trunnion, umbilicus, vestry