/ ˈedɪfɪs; NAmE / noun
( formal ) a large impressive building :
an imposing edifice
( figurative )
Their new manifesto hardly threatens to bring the whole edifice of capitalism crashing down.
( figurative )
an edifice of lies
➡ note at building
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin aedificium , from aedis dwelling + facere make.