amphora: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, technical
Quick answer
What does “amphora” mean?
A tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck, used for storing oil, wine, or other liquids.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck, used for storing oil, wine, or other liquids.
In archaeology and art history, any similar vessel from ancient cultures; also used metaphorically to refer to something ancient, classical, or containing valuable contents.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; both use the same term identically in academic contexts.
Connotations
Equally classical/historical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday speech in both regions; slightly more frequent in UK due to stronger classical education tradition.
Grammar
How to Use “amphora” in a Sentence
an amphora of [liquid/substance]amphora from [period/place]amphora decorated with [design]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amphora” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- amphoral (rare)
- amphoric (medical term, unrelated)
American English
- amphoral (rare)
- amphoric (medical term, unrelated)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in archaeology, classical studies, art history.
Everyday
Extremely rare except in museum contexts.
Technical
Specific term in archaeology with precise typological classifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amphora”
- Using 'amphora' for modern jars or bottles
- Pronouncing as /æmˈfɔːrə/ (incorrect stress)
- Using plural 'amphoras' (acceptable but 'amphorae' is classical plural)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An amphora is a specific type of two-handled storage jar from classical antiquity, while 'vase' is a general term for decorative containers.
/ˈæmfəriː/ in both British and American English, though 'amphoras' is also acceptable.
Yes, though rarely. It can metaphorically represent something ancient, classical, or containing valuable knowledge/history.
No, it's exclusively a historical/archaeological term. Modern equivalents would be 'jar', 'demijohn', or 'carboy'.
A tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck, used for storing oil, wine, or other liquids.
Amphora is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like finding an amphora of gold (rare: discovering something ancient and valuable)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AMPHORA = AMPLE (large) + HORA (hour in Latin) → imagine a large jar that has lasted through many hours of history.
Conceptual Metaphor
Container of history / vessel of tradition
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'amphora' be most appropriately used?