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Glite Dictionary
cortile

cortile

9.9
An open space surrounded by buildings, often in Italian houses
  • noun
  • /kɔrˈtiːleɪ/
translation icon : cortile
  • Visitors gathered in the cortile of the old Italian villa, admiring the beautiful architecture and tranquil atmosphere.
  • cortile of the Palazzo

Examples

  • Quadri's plan rises thirty-seven steps above the cathedral level, and because of its circular rather than elliptical form, makes possible the addition of an access gallery in the palace cortile at the top, connecting the chapel with the palace apartments.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The children played happily in the cortile, surrounded by the tall buildings of their school.

  • After lunch, the guests strolled through the cortile, enjoying the shade provided by the arches overhead.

Synonyms

courtyard
vscortile
99 2.2

An open area inside buildings, often like the space in a house or castle

is the Italian architectural term for that space often with surrounding arcades

How Big

piazza
19 7.4
cortile
9.9
yard
651 1.0

Surface Forms

cortile singular
cortili plural

Etymology

Cortile comes from Italian and originally meant a small 'court' or yard found in houses and palaces. It shares the same root as the English word court, which once meant an 'enclosed space', so a cortile today is an open courtyard surrounded by buildings.