Vāt'i-can, n.

n. [Fr. Vatican, It. Vaticano, from Lat. Vaticanus, mons or collis Vaticanus, the Vatican hill, in Rome, on the western bank of the Tiber.] A magnificent assemblage of buildings, including one of the pope’s palaces, a museum, a library, &c., situated at the foot of one of the seven hills on which Rome is built, and adjoining the Church of St. Peter.

☞ The word is often used to indicate the papal authority.

Thunders of the Vatican, the anathemas or denunciations of the pope.