A cupola is a small, dome-like structure on top of a building, often used for decoration, light, or ventilation. It can also refer to any small dome-shaped roof.
From Italian *cupola* “little dome,” from Latin *cupa* “cask, barrel,” because of the rounded shape. English borrowed it in architecture to describe small domes on roofs.
Cupolas are like architectural hats—small shapes that finish off a roof and sometimes hide windows or bells. Even when they don’t do much, they tell you the building was meant to be seen and admired, not just used.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.