belvedere
noun
bel·ve·dere ˈbel-və-ˌdir 
: a structure (such as a cupola or a summerhouse) designed to command a view
Did you know?
The Beautiful Origin of Belvedere
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and someone with a belvedere will likely have a great deal of beauty to behold. Given the origins of the word, belvedere is the ideal term for a building (or part of a building) with a view; it derives from two Italian words, bel, which means "beautiful," and vedere, which means "view." The term has been used in English since the 1570s.
Synonyms
- alcove
- casino
- gazebo
- kiosk
- pavilion
- summerhouse
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a Greek revival belvedere stands majestically on a grassy knoll overlooking the river
Recent Examples on the Web Despite its sprawling size and hefty mass, the library and events center features a vaulted framework that elegantly inserts itself into its location, on a belvedere overlooking a lake. 
Spencer Bailey, Town & Country, 21 Jan. 2022 The Belvedere in Vienna, which is a giant palace, is considered a belvedere (hence its name). Sienna Fantozzi, House Beautiful, 19 Nov. 2018 Pavilions—also known as summerhouses, gazebos or belvederes—are architects’ more free-spirited counterpoints to a house. Karen Bruno, WSJ, 1 Aug. 2018 The famed Terrace of Infinity belvedere is set, like an infinity pool, above a magnificent vista of hills and bays vanishing into the mist in the distance, and the sky melts into the low horizon line and the equally blue seas. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2018
Spencer Bailey, Town & Country, 21 Jan. 2022 The Belvedere in Vienna, which is a giant palace, is considered a belvedere (hence its name). Sienna Fantozzi, House Beautiful, 19 Nov. 2018 Pavilions—also known as summerhouses, gazebos or belvederes—are architects’ more free-spirited counterpoints to a house. Karen Bruno, WSJ, 1 Aug. 2018 The famed Terrace of Infinity belvedere is set, like an infinity pool, above a magnificent vista of hills and bays vanishing into the mist in the distance, and the sky melts into the low horizon line and the equally blue seas. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2018 Word History
Etymology
Italian, literally, beautiful view
First Known Use
1549, in the meaning defined above
belvedere
noun
as in pavilion
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views a Greek revival belvedere stands majestically on a grassy knoll overlooking the river Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pavilion
- gazebo
- alcove
- casino
- kiosk
- trellis
- summerhouse