edificeed‧i‧fice /ˈedɪfɪs/ noun [countable] 
Word Origin
Their head office was an imposing edifice.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINedifice
ExamplesOrigin:
1300-1400 French, Latin aedificium, from aedificare; ➔ EDIFYEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- The Times is housed in an imposing edifice on 1st Street.
- The whole edifice of the family's thinking rested on the notion of hard work.
- And this was an edifice that would house the greatest mystery of all: wine into blood, bread into flesh.
- Dauntless regarded this imposing edifice with dismay.
- Eventually the theory becomes a creaking and ugly edifice.
- Evidence such as this serves to undermine the apparently monolithic edifice of Victorianism.
- Replacing that foundation, we fear, will topple the edifice.
- The primary edifice, Mandeville Center, is about as inviting as a concrete bunker.
- Then he crossed the street in front of the National Gallery, glancing up at the massive edifice of the building in the process.
- To cast doubt on the importance of production is thus to bring into questIon the foundation of the entire edifice.
THESAURUS► building
Collocations a structure such as a house, church, or factory, that has a roof and walls: · The college needs money to pay for new buildings.
► property formal a building or piece of land, or both together – used especially when talking about buying and selling buildings or land: · The next property they looked at was too small.· The company received permission to build six residential properties on the land.
► premises formal the buildings and land that a shop, restaurant, company etc uses: · You are not allowed to drink alcohol on the premises.· The bread is baked on the premises.
► complex a group of buildings, or a large building with many parts, used for a particular purpose: · The town has one of the best leisure complexes in the country.· a luxury apartment complex
► development a group of new buildings that have all been planned and built together on the same piece of land: · a new housing development· a huge industrial development
► block especially British English a large tall building that contains apartments or offices, or is part of a school, university, or hospital: · an office block· a block of flats· a tower block (=a very tall building - often used disapprovingly)· My next lecture is in the science block.
► facility especially American English a place or building used for a particular activity or industry: · a research facility on campus
► edifice formal a large building, especially one that is tall and impressive – a very formal use: · Their head office was an imposing edifice.
► structure formal something that has been made to stand upright – used especially when talking about buildings: · The stone arch is one of the town’s oldest existing structures.· an immense barn-like structure· Mogul calls this building, designed by Donald and John Parkinson in 1928, ‘the most important structure in Los Angeles of the 20th century.’
WORD SETS► Buildingsadjoin, verbalcove, nounantechamber, nounanteroom, nounapartment block, nounapse, nounarcade, nounart gallery, nounatrium, nounattic, nounauditorium, nounawning, nounback door, nounback-to-back, nounbailey, nounbalcony, nounbalustrade, nounbanister, nounbarn, nounbasilica, nounbastion, nounbay window, nounblock, nounbrownstone, nounbungalow, nounbunkhouse, nounbyre, nouncabin, nouncampanile, nouncanteen, nouncarport, nouncasement, nouncastle, nounceiling, nouncellar, nouncentre, nounchalet, nounchamber, nounchancel, nounchanging room, nounchateau, nounchimney, nounchimney breast, nounchimney pot, nounchimney stack, nouncladding, nounclerk of works, nouncloakroom, nouncloister, nounclubhouse, nouncoatroom, nouncocktail lounge, nouncolonnade, nouncolumn, nouncommon room, nouncomplex, nouncompound, nounconcourse, nouncondominium, nounconservatory, nounconvent, nouncoping, nouncornerstone, nouncorn exchange, nouncorridor, nouncottage, nouncountry house, nouncountry seat, nouncourthouse, nouncowshed, noundado, noundance hall, noundetached, adjectivedoor, noundoorpost, noundormer, nounedifice, nounentry, nounentryway, nounestate, nounestate agent, nounextension, nouneyrie, nounfacade, nounfallout shelter, nounfamily room, nounfarmhouse, nounfire door, nounfire escape, nounfire station, nounfitment, nounfixture, nounflatlet, nounflight, nounfloor, nounfolly, nounforecourt, nounfort, nounfortress, nounfoyer, nounfrontage, nounfront room, nounfuneral home, noungable, noungabled, adjectivegargoyle, noungrandstand, noungrange, noungranny flat, noungrille, nounground floor, nounguardhouse, nounguesthouse, nounguildhall, noungutter, nounguttering, noungym, noungymnasium, nounhabitation, nounhall, nounhallway, nounhatch, nounhatchway, nounhayloft, nounhealth centre, nounhigh-rise, adjectivehospice, nounhospital, nounlaboratory, nounlanding, nounleaded lights, nounlean-to, nounledge, nounlightning conductor, nounlintel, nounlobby, nounlodge, nounloft, nounlog cabin, nounlounge, nounlouvre, nounmaisonette, nounmezzanine, nounmilking parlour, nounmoving staircase, nounmullion, nounnave, nounniche, nounoast house, nounobelisk, nounoffice building, nounoratory, nounoutbuilding, nounouthouse, nounoverhang, nounparapet, nounparty wall, nounpediment, nounpenthouse, nounperistyle, nounpicture window, nounpilaster, nounpillar, nounpinnacle, nounplatform, nounplumber, nounplumbing, nounpodium, nounpoint, verbPortakabin, nounpotting shed, nounpresbytery, nounpress gallery, nounprivy, nounpublic convenience, nounpyramid, nounrafter, nounrail, nounrampart, nounribbon development, nounrotunda, nounsanctuary, nounschoolhouse, nounscience park, nounsepulchre, nounservice charge, nounshack, nounshed, nounshop front, nounskylight, nounskyscraper, nounsliding door, nounsmokestack, nounsmoking room, nounspiral staircase, nounspire, nounsports centre, nounstack, nounstadium, nounstair, nounstaircase, nounstairway, nounstairwell, nounstall, nounstately home, nounstateroom, nounstation, nounsteeple, nounstep, nounstonework, nounstoop, nounstoreroom, nounstorm cellar, nounstory, nounstudio, nountenement, nountepee, nounterrace, nountheatre, nountoilet, nountool shed, nountower block, nountown hall, nountownhouse, nountransept, nountransom, nountrapdoor, nountreasury, nounturret, nounvault, nounvaulted, adjectivevaulting, nounventilator, nounvestibule, nounvilla, nounwalkway, nounwall, nounwatchtower, nounwater tower, nounweatherboard, nounwedding chapel, nounwing, nounwoodshed, nounworkhouse, nounworkroom, nounworkshop, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► whole
formal a building, especially a large one: · A good autumn wind would bring the whole edifice crashing to earth.· If so, the whole edifice so carefully reconstructed by Finnis is in danger of collapse.· Managerial authority, and indeed the whole edifice of organisational power, represent the rights of ownership delegated to management.· Why did she feel then that the whole edifice was about to crumble and fall down, leaving her exposed and defenceless?
VERB► build· Because after all, you built this edifice to be accepted by the world.· What is the overall impression of the built edifice to the human experience of visitors to that place?
Their head office was an imposing edifice.