Church (chûrch), Frederick Edwin 1826-1900. American painter and leader of the Hudson River School. His works include Heart of the Andes (1859). |
church (chûrch)n.1. A building for public, especially Christian worship. 2. often Churcha. The company of all Christians regarded as a spiritual body. b. A specified Christian denomination: the Presbyterian Church. c. A congregation. 3. Public divine worship in a church; a religious service: goes to church at Christmas and Easter. 4. The clerical profession; clergy. 5. Ecclesiastical power as distinguished from the secular: the separation of church and state. tr.v. churched, church·ing, church·es To conduct a church service for, especially to perform a religious service for (a woman after childbirth). adj. Of or relating to the church; ecclesiastical.
[Middle English chirche, from Old English cirice, ultimately from Medieval Greek k rikon, from Late Greek k riakon (d ma), the Lord's (house), neuter of Greek k riakos, of the lord, from k rios, lord; see keu - in Indo-European roots.] |
church Noun
1. a building for public Christian worship
2. religious services held in a church
3. a particular Christian denomination
4. Christians collectively
5. the clergy as distinguished from the laity
6. Church institutional religion as a political or social force: conflict between Church and State [Greek kuriakon (dōma) the Lord's (house)]
Churchthe belief that the church as an organization is independent of and equal to the state, with its highest authority lying in its collective membership.
the rank or office of a deacon.
Eastern Church. sacristan.
an excessive adherence to the doctrines and practices of the church. — ecclesiastic, n., adj. — ecclesiastical, adj.
Rare. an opposition to the church.
a descriptive study of the church. — ecclesiographer, n. — ecclesiographic, ecclesiographical, adj.
an intense devotion to church forms, authority, and traditions.
1. the study of church building and decoration.
2. Theology. the doctrine of the church.
3. the policy and operations of the church. — ecclesiologist, n. — ecclesiologic, ecclesiological, adj.
an abnormal fear or dislike of the church.
a dissertation on church festivals.
a mania for priests.
a list of the lections, or texts, to be read in church services through-out the canonical year.
formerly, a ninth part of a parishioner’s movable property, which was claimed upon his death by the clergy in England. See also
law.
a person who leads a church choir or congregation in singing.
an official or cleric appointed curator of the vestments, sacred vessels, and relies of a religious body, church, or cathedral.
the sin or offense of selling or granting for personal advantage church appointments, benefices, preferments, etc. — simoniac, simonist, n.
Church Law. the taking of property by an incumbent upon resignation or any other departure. See also
ships;
theft;
war.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | church - one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worshiporganized religion, religion, faith - an institution to express belief in a divine power; "he was raised in the Baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him" Christendom, Christianity - the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia); "for a thousand years the Roman Catholic Church was the principal church of Christendom" Catholic Church - any of several churches claiming to have maintained historical continuity with the original Christian Church Nestorian Church - a Christian Church in the Middle East that followed Nestorianism; there is still a small Nestorian Church in Iraq Unification Church - a Christian church (with some Buddhist elements) founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon and known for staging mass weddings and other communal activities Christian - a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination |
| 2. | church - a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty"abbey - a church associated with a monastery or convent amen corner - area reserved for persons leading the responsive `amens' apse, apsis - a domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church; usually contains the altar basilica - an early Christian church designed like a Roman basilica; or a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges; "the church was raised to the rank of basilica" duomo, cathedral - the principal Christian church building of a bishop's diocese bema, chancel, sanctuary - area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing lady chapel - a small chapel in a church; dedicated to the Virgin Mary narthex - a vestibule leading to the nave of a church nave - the central area of a church presbytery - building reserved for the officiating clergy rood screen - a screen in a church; separates the nave from the choir or chancel side chapel - a small chapel off the side aisle of a church transept - structure forming the transverse part of a cruciform church; crosses the nave at right angles sacristy, vestry - a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept or meetings are held |
| 3. | church - a service conducted in a house of worship; "don't be late for church"Divine Office - canonical prayers recited daily by priests (e.g. the breviary of the Roman Catholic Church) church bell - a bell in a church tower (usually sounded to summon people to church); "church bells were ringing all over town" crypt - a cellar or vault or underground burial chamber (especially beneath a church) hassock - a cushion for kneeling on (as when praying in church) spire, steeple - a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top Puritanism - the beliefs and practices characteristic of Puritans (most of whom were Calvinists who wished to purify the Church of England of its Catholic aspects) banns - a public announcement of a proposed marriage High Anglican Church, High Church - a group in the Anglican Church that emphasizes the Catholic tradition (especially in sacraments and rituals and obedience to church authority) separationist, separatist - an advocate of secession or separation from a larger group (such as an established church or a national union) disestablish - deprive (an established church) of its status attend, go to - be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.; "She attends class regularly"; "I rarely attend services at my church"; "did you go to the meeting?" |
| 4. | church - the body of people who attend or belong to a particular local church; "our church is hosting a picnic next week"body - a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity; "the whole body filed out of the auditorium"; "the student body"; "administrative body" Christendom, Christianity - the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia); "for a thousand years the Roman Catholic Church was the principal church of Christendom" |
| Verb | 1. | church - perform a special church rite or service for; "church a woman after childbirth"perform - perform a function; "Who will perform the wedding?" |
church
Translations
church [tʃəːtʃ] n →
iglesia;
the Church of England →
la Iglesia Anglicana
church [tʃəːtʃ] n →
église f;
the Church of England →
l'Église anglicane
church [tʃəːtʃ] n →
chiesa;
the Church of England →
la Chiesa anglicana
churchn church [tʃəːtʃ]1 a building for public Christian worship.
kerk كَنيسَه църква kostel kirke die Kirche εκκλησία iglesia kirik کلیسا kirkko église כְּנֵסִיָה गिरजाघर crkva templom gereja kirkja chiesa 教会 교회, 성당 bažnyčia baznīca gereja kerk kirke kościół igreja biserică церковь kostol cerkev crkva kyrka โบสถ์ kilise 教堂 церква گرجا nhà thờ 教堂 2 a group of Christians considered as a whole
the Catholic Church. kerkgroep, kerksheid الكَنيسَه християни církev kirke die Kirche Εκκλησία iglesia kirik هر یک از فرقه های مسیحی kirkko Église כְּנֵסִיָה ईसाइयों का एक मत crkva egyház Gereja söfnuður Chiesa 教派 기독교도 bažnyčia baznīca Gereja Katolik kerk menighet kościół igreja Biserică церковь cirkev cerkev crkva kyrka กลุ่มคริสตศาสนิกชน Hristiyanlığın çeşitli mezhepleri, ...mezhebi 教會 церква عیسائیوں کا گروہ giáo hội 教会 n churchyardthe burial ground round a church.
kerkhof فِناء الكَنيسَه църковен двор hřbitov (u kostela) kirkegård der Kirchhof κοιμητήριο cementerio kirikuaed محوطۀ دور کلیسا که مخصوص دفن مردگان است hautausmaa cimetière חָצַר כְּנֵסִיָה गिरजा के समीप मृतकों के गाड़ने का स्थान groblje sírkert pemakaman kirkjugarður cimitero 墓地 교회의 부속 묘지 kapinės kapsēta kawasan gereja kerkhof kirkegård cmentarz cemitério cimitir кладбище cintorín pokopališče porta kyrkogård หลุมฝังศพรอบโบสถ์ kilise mezarlık avlusu (教堂四周的)墓地 церковне подвір'я گرجے کے نزدیک قبرستان nghĩa địa (教堂四周的)墓地