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church Definition

church (c̸hʉrc̸h)

noun

  1. a building set apart or consecrated for public worship, esp. one for Christian worship
  2. religious service or public worship, esp. among Christians
    1. all Christians considered as a single body
    2. a particular sect or denomination of Christians
  4. the ecclesiastical government of a particular religious group, or its power, as opposed to secular government
  5. the profession of the clergy; clerical profession
  6. a group of worshipers; congregation

Etymology: ME chirche, kirke < OE cirice (& ON kirkja < OE) < Gmc *kirika < LGr(Ec) *kyrikē < Gr kyriakē (oikia), Lord's (house) < kyriakos, belonging to the Lord < kyrios, ruler < kyros, supreme power < IE base *eu-, a swelling, to be strong, hero > cave

transitive verb

to bring (esp. a woman after childbirth) to church for special services

adjective

  1. having to do with organized Christian worship
  2. of or connected with a church

Church Definition

Church (c̸hʉrc̸h)

Church, Frederic Edwin 1826-1900; U.S. landscape painter

church Synonyms

church

n.

  1. A building consecrated to worship

    house of God, Lord's house, cathedral, temple, synagogue, mosque, masjid, oratory, place of worship, house of prayer, meetinghouse, chapel, minster, basilica, tabernacle, bethel, abbey, sanctuary, sacellum, chantry, pantheon, conventicle, collegiate church, mission, shrine, duomo (usu. in Italy), pagoda, kirk (Scottish); see also cathedral, temple.

  2. A divine service

    service, church service, public worship, rite, religious rite, ordinance, prayers, liturgy, prayer meeting, Sunday school, divine worship, Mass, Holy Mass, Lord's Supper, sacrament, the holy sacrament, Angelus, matins, vespers, ritual, morning prayer, evening prayer, evensong, camp meeting, congregational worship, fellowship, devotions, office, duty, revival meeting, exercises, liturgics, sermon, communion; see also ceremony 2.

  3. An organized religious body

    congregation, denomination, Christian denomination, sect, chapter, body, order, communion, faith, religion, religious society, religious order, affiliation, persuasion, belief, faction, doctrine, creed, cult, ism*; see also Christianity 1, 2, gathering.

    Christian churches include: Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist, Latter-day Saint, Mormon*, Congregational, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian, Serbian, Antiochian, Armenian, Bulgarian, etc.), Orthodox Christianity, Coptic, Pentecostal, Evangelical Reformed, Church of England, Uniat, Melkite, Church of Rome, Church of Christ, Church of the Nazarene, Disciples of Christ, Church of the Brethren, Dunkers*, Dunkards*, United Brethren, Society of Friends, Quakers*.

church Usage Examples

Preposition: of

denomination: The Fairtrade Churches movement started in May 2004 and the idea has quickly gained popularity among churches of different denominations across the country.

Converse of object

  • found: He was educated by the monks of Beauly Priory and founded a church in Kilmuir and in Glenelg.
  • attend: For those members who do not normally attend church we would encourage you to take part too.
  • build: Question 11: In which decade was the parish church built?
  • emerge: An emerging church in Manchester engaged in a journey of creative exploration into spirituality, culture and faith.

Adjective modifier

  • Reformed: The Growing Up proposals in 1999 put this sharply into context for the United Reformed Church in relation to the Five Marks of Mission.
  • Christian: How can men within the Christian church be men?
  • medieval: Medieval Churches of West Yorkshire a survey of the county's medieval parish churches, many of which have been ignored by architectural historians.
  • evangelical: In East Germany, the ' Swords into Plowshares ' peace campaign started under the wing of the Evangelical Churches.
  • Protestant: The heads of the Protestant Churches of Czecho-Slovakia have issued a declaration in almost the same terms.
  • Baptist: Loughborough Male Voice Choir Formed in 1967 from a group of men associated with the Baptist Church in the town.

Modifies a noun

  • hall: The Club meets in the large church hall opposite.
  • bell: Now, church bells accompany the transition between life and death.
  • leader: Your church leader has predicted the imminent end of the world.
  • tower: The Americans knew the value of a church tower to Artillery observers, men who could rain death upon advancing troops.
  • choir: They joined the church choir together and love blossomed.
  • spire: Walk along river past the Leisure Center until you see the church spire.

Noun used with modifier

  • parish: Question 11: In which decade was the parish church built?
  • abbey: Another of the impressive architectural treasures still very much in evidence, apart from the abbey church, is the monks ' refectory.
  • non-conformist: I hope to do some non-conformist churches, for example.