Dictionary entry details
• CHURCH (noun)
Meaning:
One of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Synonyms:
Christian church; church
Hypernyms ("church" is a kind of...):
faith; organized religion; religion (an institution to express belief in a divine power)
Meronyms (members of "church"):
Christian (a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "church"):
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)
Protestant; Protestant Church (the Protestant churches and denominations collectively)
Coptic Church (the ancient Christian church of Egypt)
Nestorian Church (a Christian Church in the Middle East that followed Nestorianism; there is still a small Nestorian Church in Iraq)
Catholic Church (any of several churches claiming to have maintained historical continuity with the original Christian Church)
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church; Armenian Church (an independent Christian church established in Armenia since 300; was influenced by both Roman and Byzantine traditions)
Holonyms ("church" is a part of...):
Christendom; Christianity (the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia))
Meaning:
A place for public (especially Christian) worship
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
church building; church
Context example:
the church was empty
Hypernyms ("church" is a kind of...):
house of God; house of prayer; house of worship; place of worship (any building where congregations gather for prayer)
Meronyms (parts of "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)
nave (the central area of a church)
narthex (a vestibule leading to the nave of a church)
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)
bema; chancel; sanctuary (area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing)
church tower (the tower of a church)
lady chapel (a small chapel in a church; dedicated to the Virgin Mary)
Domain category:
church; church service (a service conducted in a house of worship)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "church"):
abbey (a church associated with a monastery or convent)
basilica (an early Christian church designed like a Roman basilica; or a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges)
cathedral (any large and important church)
cathedral; duomo (the principal Christian church building of a bishop's diocese)
kirk (a Scottish church)
Meaning:
A service conducted in a house of worship
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
church service; church
Context example:
don't be late for church
Hypernyms ("church" is a kind of...):
divine service; religious service; service (the act of public worship following prescribed rules)
Domain member category:
official ((of a church) given official status as a national or state institution)
attend; go to (be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.)
disestablish (deprive (an established church) of its status)
separationist; separatist (an advocate of secession or separation from a larger group (such as an established church or a national union))
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))
Anglican Church; Anglican Communion; Church of England (the national church of England (and all other churches in other countries that share its beliefs); has its see in Canterbury and the sovereign as its temporal head)
discourse; preaching; sermon (an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service))
banns (a public announcement of a proposed marriage)
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))
Divine Office (canonical prayers recited daily by priests (e.g. the breviary of the Roman Catholic Church))
church; church building (a place for public (especially Christian) worship)
church bell (a bell in a church tower (usually sounded to summon people to church))
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)
Meaning:
The body of people who attend or belong to a particular local church
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Context example:
our church is hosting a picnic next week
Hypernyms ("church" is a kind of...):
body (a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity)
Holonyms ("church" is a part of...):
Christendom; Christianity (the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia))
• CHURCH (verb)
Meaning:
Perform a special church rite or service for
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
church a woman after childbirth
Hypernyms (to "church" is one way to...):
perform (perform a function)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
