MEMORIAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does memorial mean? 

• MEMORIAL (noun)
  The noun MEMORIAL has 3 senses:

1. a recognition of meritorious service

2. a written statement of facts submitted in conjunction with a petition to an authority

3. a structure erected to commemorate persons or events

  Familiarity information: MEMORIAL used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MEMORIAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A recognition of meritorious service

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

commemoration; memorial; remembrance

Hypernyms ("memorial" is a kind of...):

credit; recognition (approval)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "memorial"):

epitaph (a summary statement of commemoration for a dead person)

festschrift (a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar)

Derivation:

memorialize (be or provide a memorial to a person or an event)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A written statement of facts submitted in conjunction with a petition to an authority

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("memorial" is a kind of...):

content; message; subject matter; substance (what a communication that is about something is about)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A structure erected to commemorate persons or events

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

memorial; monument

Hypernyms ("memorial" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "memorial"):

brass; memorial tablet; plaque (a memorial made of brass)

cenotaph; empty tomb (a monument built to honor people whose remains are interred elsewhere or whose remains cannot be recovered)

gravestone; headstone; tombstone (a stone that is used to mark a grave)

megalith; megalithic structure (memorial consisting of a very large stone forming part of a prehistoric structure (especially in western Europe))

national monument (memorial consisting of a structure or natural landmark of historic interest; set aside by national government for preservation and public enjoyment)

pantheon (a monument commemorating a nation's dead heroes)

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; Seven Wonders of the World (impressive monuments created in the ancient world that were regarded with awe)

triumphal arch (a monumental archway; usually they are built to commemorate some notable victory)

Instance hyponyms:

Lincoln Memorial (memorial building in Washington containing a large marble statue of Abraham Lincoln)

Great Pyramid; Pyramid; Pyramids of Egypt (a massive monument with a square base and four triangular sides; begun by Cheops around 2700 BC as royal tombs in ancient Egypt)

Statue of Liberty (a large monumental statue symbolizing liberty on Liberty Island in New York Bay)

Washington Monument (a stone obelisk built in Washington in 1884 to honor George Washington; 555 feet tall)

Derivation:

memorialize (be or provide a memorial to a person or an event)

 Context examples 

I confess, it was whispered to me, that I was bound in duty, as a subject of England, to have given in a memorial to a secretary of state at my first coming over; because, whatever lands are discovered by a subject belong to the crown.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

There was no want of likeness, she had been fortunate in the attitude, and as she meant to throw in a little improvement to the figure, to give a little more height, and considerably more elegance, she had great confidence of its being in every way a pretty drawing at last, and of its filling its destined place with credit to them both—a standing memorial of the beauty of one, the skill of the other, and the friendship of both; with as many other agreeable associations as Mr. Elton's very promising attachment was likely to add.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

To my dear sister Margaret, I give my turkquoise ring (if I get it), also my green box with the doves on it, also my piece of real lace for her neck, and my sketch of her as a memorial of her 'little girl'.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

His, therefore, must be worn; and having, with delightful feelings, joined the chain and the cross—those memorials of the two most beloved of her heart, those dearest tokens so formed for each other by everything real and imaginary—and put them round her neck, and seen and felt how full of William and Edmund they were, she was able, without an effort, to resolve on wearing Miss Crawford's necklace too.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Its long, damp passages, its narrow cells and ruined chapel, were to be within her daily reach, and she could not entirely subdue the hope of some traditional legends, some awful memorials of an injured and ill-fated nun.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I had sent so many memorials and petitions for my liberty, that his majesty at length mentioned the matter, first in the cabinet, and then in a full council; where it was opposed by none, except Skyresh Bolgolam, who was pleased, without any provocation, to be my mortal enemy.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

With much difficulty and some danger she was dug out, for Jo was so overcome with laughter while she excavated that her knife went too far, cut the poor foot, and left a lasting memorial of one artistic attempt, at least.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

For instance, a crew of pirates are driven by a storm they know not whither; at length a boy discovers land from the top-mast; they go on shore to rob and plunder, they see a harmless people, are entertained with kindness; they give the country a new name; they take formal possession of it for their king; they set up a rotten plank, or a stone, for a memorial; they murder two or three dozen of the natives, bring away a couple more, by force, for a sample; return home, and get their pardon.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The pleasant curves about his mouth were the memorials of many friendly words and cheery laughs, his eyes were never cold or hard, and his big hand had a warm, strong grasp that was more expressive than words.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

These struldbrugs and I would mutually communicate our observations and memorials, through the course of time; remark the several gradations by which corruption steals into the world, and oppose it in every step, by giving perpetual warning and instruction to mankind; which, added to the strong influence of our own example, would probably prevent that continual degeneracy of human nature so justly complained of in all ages.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)