1. A large, imposing building. This is the most common meaning. It often implies a building that has a sense of grandeur or importance, like a cathedral, a government building, or a towering skyscraper.
2. A complex structure or system. This meaning is more metaphorical and describes something that is built up over time and requires a lot of effort to create. For example, you might talk about the "edifice of democracy" or the "edifice of scientific knowledge."
Here are some examples:
* "The ancient edifice stood proudly against the skyline." (Meaning 1)
* "They worked tirelessly to build the edifice of their business." (Meaning 2)
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!