\Lat"er*an\, n.
The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being
the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all
churches in the Catholic world.
Note: The name is said to have been derived from that of the
      Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the
      spot where the church now stands. In this church
      several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran
      councils, have been held.