A basilica is a church built as a long hall: a tall middle space with a rounded end, often with lower sides. The shape is older than the church.

A basilica is a church built as a long hallbasilica是一種蓋成長形大廳的教堂: a tall middle space with a rounded end中間是高高的空間、一端是圓的, often with lower sides兩側通常比較低. The shape is older than the church這個形狀比教會本身還古老.

In ancient Rome, a basilica was a royal or public hall for law and business; early Christians borrowed that long-room plan, and the name came with it. When English speakers say basilica today, they usually mean a church of that long shape with a round end, especially a large or old one.

In ancient Rome在古羅馬, a basilica was a royal or public hall for law and businessbasilica是用來處理法律和商業事務的皇家或公共大廳; early Christians borrowed that long-room plan早期基督徒借用了這種長形空間的格局, and the name came with it這個名字也就跟著沿用下來. When English speakers say basilica today現在英文使用者說basilica的時候, they usually mean a church of that long shape with a round end通常是指那種長形、一端是圓的教堂, especially a large or old one尤其是比較大或比較古老的那種.

Though actually the Pope also gives some churches the title basilica as an honour, even when the building is not that shape — that is a rank, not this shape. This word is the shape: a long room with a round end.

Though actually不過其實, the Pope also gives some churches the title basilica as an honour教宗也會把basilica這個頭銜當作榮譽授予某些教堂, even when the building is not that shape即使那棟建築物不是那個形狀 — that is a rank, not this shape那是一種位階，不是這裡說的形狀. This word is the shape: a long room with a round end這個字（在這裡）指的是形狀：一端是圓的長形空間.