[C] portico noun uk/'po:. TI.k@U/us/'po:. TI.koU/plural porticoes or porticoes. > a covered entryway to a structure, generally a big and majestic building, supported by columns. Synonyms and similar terms can be found in a thesaurus. A portico is a roofed porch or hall projecting from a house or other building. It is usually located at the entrance, and may be part of the ground floor or of the first floor. The entrance to a church is often flanked by small porticos, called niches, in which statues or images are placed. Porticos also appear on many buildings around the world, especially in India. On churches, these indicate the presence of treasures inside the building should anyone want to donate them. The word comes from Latin porticus (nominative porticus), plural portici, which means "a shelter, a shed, a porch". This word is derived from poter, "to cover", + icis, "in this direction". Thus, a portico is a covered walk or corridor leading to an entranceway or door. In English architecture, a portico is one of the most important elements. It provides protection from the weather, and serves as a place where people can go inside a building without being exposed to rain or sun. A portico can also be used to display flowers or other plants.