Dome vs. Vault — What's the Difference?

A structure resembling the hemisphere.

An act of leaping over an obstacle.

A rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure, typically with a circular base.

To leap or spring, as to or from a position or over something.

A stately or royal residence, especially in the names of official buildings in various countries.

An arched structure that forms a ceiling or roof.

A natural formation or structure resembling a dome.

A burial chamber.

An element in watchmaking that covers the face of the watch.

A room or compartment for safekeeping of valuables.

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.

A building; a house; an edifice.

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

(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 cellar or underground storeroom.

(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.

Any burial chamber, particularly those underground.

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

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

(transitive) To give a domed shape to.

Any archive of past content.

To shoot in the head.

(computing) An encrypted digital archive.

To perform fellatio on.

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

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

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

A cupola formed on a large scale.

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

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.

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

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 piece of apparatus used for performing jumps.

Decision; judgment; opinion; a court decision.

(gymnastics) A gymnastic movement performed on this apparatus.

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

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

Informal terms for a human head

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

A stadium that has a roof

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

A hemispherical roof

(ambitransitive) To jump or leap over.

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

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

A dome serves to cover wide, open spaces without internal supports, providing a significant open interior.

Vaults are primarily used to construct ceilings and roofs, especially in corridors, tunnels, and for elongated spaces.

Modern domes often utilize materials like glass and steel for light and durability, while modern vaults may use reinforced concrete for strength and longevity.

Domes are often associated with Byzantine and Renaissance architectural styles.

Vaults are crucial in Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.

Yes, both can be adapted for use in residential architecture, though domes are less common.

Domes often symbolize grandeur and dominance, whereas vaults symbolize strength and support.

The Pantheon in Rome is famous for its ancient dome.

The arched structure of a vault is its most distinctive feature, providing both strength and aesthetic appeal.

Vaults have been significant in architectural history for their role in Gothic and Romanesque architecture, particularly in Europe.

Constructing a dome involves complex engineering, especially to support the structure without internal columns.

The main challenge in constructing a vault is achieving the perfect arch shape to ensure structural stability.

Recent innovations in vault construction include the use of lightweight materials and new construction methods like thin-shell vaulting.

Domes generally create a dramatic focal point due to their large, visible structure, while vaults add aesthetic detail to interiors.

Yes, various natural formations like volcanic domes resemble the architectural structure of domes.