n.
Pronunciation: ' kyü-p ə -l ə , ÷- ˌ l ō
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian, from Latin cupula, diminutive of cupa tub
Date: 1549
1 a : a rounded vault resting on a usually circular base and forming a roof or a ceiling b : a small structure built on top of a roof
2 : a vertical cylindrical furnace for melting iron in the foundry that has tuyeres and tapping spouts near the bottom
3 : a raised observation post in the roof of a railroad caboose
– cu · po · laed \ -l ə d, ÷- ˌ l ō d \ adjective