Vatican

[vat-i-kuh n] /ˈvæt ɪ kən/

noun

Also called Vatican Palace. the chief residence of the popes in Vatican City, now also including a library, archives, art museum, apartments, and administrative offices.

the authority and government of the pope (distinguished from the Quirinal).

Origin

1545-55; < Latin vātīcānus (mōns) Vatican (hill)

Vatican II

noun

Second Vatican Council.

Examples from the web for Vatican

In painting, he executed a number portraits of celebrated personages for the Vatican.

British Dictionary definitions for Vatican

Vatican

/ˈvætɪkən/

noun

the palace of the popes in Rome and their principal residence there since 1377, which includes administrative offices, a library, museum, etc, and is attached to the basilica of St Peter's
(as modifier): the Vatican Council

the authority of the Pope and the papal curia
(as modifier): a Vatican edict

Word Origin

C16: from Latin Vāticānus mons Vatican hill, on the western bank of the Tiber, of Etruscan origin

Word Origin and History for Vatican

1550s, from Latin mons Vaticanus, Roman hill on which Papal palace stands. An Etruscan loan-word, not related to vates "sooth-sayer."

Vatican in Culture

Vatican II definition

The popular name for the Second Vatican Council, an assembly of all the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church held from 1962 to 1965. The bishops ordered a large-scale liberalization and modernization of practices in their church.