lateran Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the site in Rome containing the church of Rome and the Lateran Palace

WordNet

Lat"er*an noun
Definitions
  1. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world. ✍ The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held.

Webster 1913