Nave, central and principal part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance (the narthex) to the transepts (transverse aisle crossing the nave in front of the sanctuary in a cruciform church) or, in the absence of transepts, to the chancel (area around the altar).
Medieval naves were divided into bays, the repetition of form giving an effect of great length; and the vertical element of the nave was emphasized. During the Renaissance, in place of dramatic effects there were more balanced proportions. [1]
A nave is the central part of a church, extending from the main entrance or rear wall to the transepts or chancel. The term comes from the Latin word "navis," meaning "ship," which is fitting given the nave's long, narrow shape.
The nave of a church is the long central part where people gather to worship. Within half an hour the nave had been cleared of people. Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
The nave is the central part of a church, stretching from the main entrance or rear wall to the transepts or chancel. It is the long narrow part of a Roman basilica or a Christian church, where people sit in a modern church.
The nave is the central part of a church building, extending from the main entrance or narthex to the chancel or choir area. It is typically rectangular in shape and flanked by aisles on either side.
When a bride walks down the aisle in a church, she is walking down the nave, or central area of the church. The word nave comes from the Latin navis, meaning "ship."