noun

1. 1. a building for the worship of a divinity or divinities
   2. anything viewed as the dwelling place of God or a divinity
2. 1. any of the Jewish sacred edifices for worshiping Jehovah, successively built in ancient Jerusalem
   2. a synagogue, esp. of a Reform or Conservative congregation
3. a church
4. either of two sets (Inner Temple and Middle Temple) of London buildings housing two of England's four principal law societies: their site was formerly occupied by the London branch of the Knights Templars
5. a building, usually of imposing size, etc., serving the public or an organization in some special way a temple of art, a Masonic temple

Etymology: ME < OE tempel & OFr temple, both < L templum, temple, sanctuary, orig., space marked out: for IE base see temper