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tumulus

[ too-myuh-luh s, tyoo- ]

/ ˈtu myə ləs, ˈtyu- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tumulus ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural tu·mu·lus·es, tu·mu·li [too-myuh-lahy, tyoo-] /ˈtu myəˌlaɪ, ˈtyu-/.

Archaeology. an artificial mound, especially over a grave; barrow.

Geology. a domelike swelling or mound formed in congealed lava.

Origin of tumulus

1680–90; < Latin: mound, swelling, equivalent to tum(ēre) to swell + -ulus -ule

Words nearby tumulus

tumulose, tumulous, tumult, tumultuary, tumultuous, tumulus, tun, tun., tuna, tunable, tunbridge ware

Example sentences from the Web for tumulus

The tumulus was then raised to nearly twice its present height.

The Paladins of Edwin the Great |Clements R. Markham
However he left it at the foot of a tumulus, and the next day, to his surprise, he found it perfectly whole.

English Villages |P. H. Ditchfield
This can scarcely be the tumulus referred to by Canon Raines if the distance (two hundred yards) from the river be correct.

On Some Ancient Battle-Fields in Lancashire |Charles Hardwick
A very good specimen from the tumulus at Saint George is illustrated in Fig. 270.

Pottery of the ancient Pueblos. (1886 N 04 / 1882-1883 (pages 257-360)) |William Henry Holmes

The buried monument is called a Tumulus on account of its resemblance to a hill.

History Of Ancient Civilization |Charles Seignobos

British Dictionary definitions for tumulus

tumulus

/ (ˈtjuːmjʊləs) /

noun plural -li (-liː)

archaeol (no longer in technical usage) another word for barrow 2

Word Origin for tumulus

C17: from Latin: a hillock, from tumēre to swell up