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Glite Dictionary
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

4 3.7
A large white marble tomb in Agra, India, built by Shah Jahan for his wife and known for its beauty
  • proper noun
  • /tɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/
translation icon : Taj Mahal
  • During our trip to India, we took countless photos of the Taj Mahal, which is known as a symbol of love.
  • visit the Taj Mahal
  • tour the Taj Mahal
  • see the Taj Mahal

Examples

  • The Taj Mahal may be India's most famous tourist attraction, forming part of the itinerary for up to 4 million travelers each year, but a look at this architectural beauty may soon be restricted to pretty postcards.

    Blog text (21)

  • The Taj Mahal is made completely of white marble.

    Blog text (26)

  • What he seemed to have forgotten was that the Taj Mahal is a tomb.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • From a distance, the Taj Mahal takes your breath away, but it's only when you get up close to it that you can really appreciate the detail involved.

    Blog text (21)

  • The entrance to the Taj Mahal itself is through the landscaped gardens.

    Blog text (21)

  • The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mogul architecture.

    Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

  • Currently, tourists can tour the Taj Mahal and its accompanying gardens, but in an effort to reduce pollution, cars aren't allowed near the area, so visitors must catch an electric bus or walk.

    Blog text (21)

  • The Taj Mahal is a stunning marble mausoleum in Agra, India, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife.

  • Many visitors travel to India specifically to see the Taj Mahal and appreciate its beautiful architecture.

Synonyms

taj
vsTaj Mahal
30 5.5

A famous white marble tomb in Agra, India

gives exact builder, construction years and commemorative purpose rather than a general date

Surface Forms

Taj Mahal main

Morphology

taj + mahal

The name combines meanings of its parts: 'taj' (mausoleum/crown) and 'mahal' (grand building/palace), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a grand, ornate mausoleum/palace. Although a proper name, the overall meaning is compositionally transparent and cross-linguistically recognizable, so a B1 learner familiar with the component words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Taj Mahal comes from Persian words taj meaning 'crown' and mahal meaning 'palace'. Shah Jahan built this grand tomb for his wife, so the image of a 'crown palace' helps explain why the building has that famous name.