Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
portal tomb

portal tomb

9.9
A large ancient grave made of two standing stones holding a flat stone on top
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : tumba portal
  • Archaeologists discovered a portal tomb dating back to the Neolithic period in the Irish countryside.

Examples

  • The massive stones of the portal tomb stood untouched for thousands of years.

  • We visited an ancient portal tomb during our history field trip.

  • The ancient portal tomb stood in the middle of the field.

  • Many portal tombs can be found in Ireland.

  • Archaeologists discovered a portal tomb dating back to the Neolithic period in the Irish countryside.

  • The massive stones of the portal tomb stood untouched for thousands of years.

  • We visited an ancient portal tomb during our history field trip.

Synonyms

tomb
vsportal tomb
235 3.0

A large stone building or underground room where people put a dead person

is a specific prehistoric two-upright capstone form rather than any burial building
trilithon
vsportal tomb
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A stone structure of two tall standing stones with a third stone laid across the top

focuses on burial function and megalithic monument aspect rather than mere structure
dolmen
vsportal tomb
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An ancient tomb made of large upright stones that hold a flat stone

is the specific two-upright capstone burial form rather than any similar stone structure
cromlech
vsportal tomb
  • UK
9.9

A very old stone tomb with large upright stones and a flat stone on top

is the same burial form but under a different traditional label

How Old

portal tomb
  • UK
9.9
temple
365 3.4

Surface Forms

portal tomb singular
portal tombs plural

Morphology

portal + tomb

The compound simply combines 'portal' (gateway/entrance) with 'tomb' (burial chamber), so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a tomb characterized by an entrance or portal. Although the full archaeological specifics (upright stones supporting a capstone) are technical, the core meaning is directly compositional and predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Portal tomb comes from how the stones look: two tall upright stones form a stone portal like a 'door' and hold a flat stone on top above the burial tomb or 'grave'. So the name helps you picture a very old stone 'grave' made from upright stones holding a flat top stone.