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Defined

ba-sil'-i-ca, n. [Gr. basilikê stoa, royal portico, from basilikos, royal.]

1. In ancient Rome, a building of rectangular shape, with a broad nave ending in a semi-circular apse, and flanked by colonnaded aisles, used as a court of justice and place of public assembly.

2. An early Christian church, which generally followed the same ground plan as (1).

3. A Roman Catholic Church with special ceremonial privileges.

4. In the Middle Ages, a large building erected over the tomb of a notable person.

Etymology

basilica(n.)

1540s, "type of building based on the Athenian royal portico, large oblong building with double columns and a semicircular porch at the end," from Latin basilica "building of a court of justice," from Greek (stoa) basilike "royal (portal)." In Athens this was the portico of the archon basileus, the official who dispensed justice there. The word is thus from the fem. adjective of basileus "king."

In Rome, the style of building used for halls of justice, many of which were subsequently appropriated as churches, and so it became a standard plan for new churches. The word is applied to the seven principal Roman churches founded by Constantine. The specific reference to Christian churches in English is attested by 1560s.