a building for public religious services and especially Christian worship
often Church a body or organization of religious believers: such as
the institution of the Christian religion the Christian religion seen as an organization
the clergy or officialdom of a religious body //The word church … is put for the Persons that are ordained for the Ministry of the Gospel, that is to say, the Clergy — J. Ayliffe
denomination //the Presbyterian church
the whole body of Christians //… the One Church is the whole body gathered together from all ages … — J. H. Newman
congregation //… they had appointed elders for them in every church … — Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)
a public divine worship //goes to church every Sunday
the clerical profession //considered the church as a possible career

adjective

Definition (Entry 2 of 3)

of or relating to a church //church government
chiefly British of or relating to the established church

verb

churched; churching; churches

Definition (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb
to bring to church to receive one of its rites

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: Noun

kirk [chiefly Scottish] tabernacle temple

Examples

Noun

//This is the oldest church in town.
//They would like to be married in a church.
//I didn't see you at church last Sunday.
//He is a member of the Catholic Church.
//What church do you belong to?
//the church's attitude toward divorce
//the separation of church and state

First Known Use

Noun

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English chirche, from Old English cirice, ultimately from Late Greek kyriakon, from Greek, neuter of kyriakos of the lord, from kyrios lord, master; akin to Sanskrit śūra hero, warrior

church

noun

Synonyms

a building for public worship and especially Christian worship //a city that is noted for its many historic churches
Synonyms

kirk [chiefly Scottish] tabernacle temple
Related Words

abbey bethel cathedral chapel minster mission oratory sanctuary shrine
meetinghouse
mosque pagoda shul synagogue (also synagog)
a body of persons gathered for religious worship //spoke to the whole church at once
Synonyms

assembly congregation
Related Words

flock laity parish
communion confession denomination fold sect
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church //a time when few young men seem to want to join the church
Synonyms

clergy cloth first estate ministry spirituality spiritualty
Related Words

diaconate episcopate hierarchy presbytery
clerkship monkhood priesthood
Antonyms

laity

cinema

noun

cin·e·ma

p/extinguish'>extinguish extirpate liquidate remove root (out) stamp (out) wipe out

Synonymous Phrases

dispose of set aside

Near Antonyms

adopt embrace take on

employ use utilize

hold hold back keep retain

to give up (a job or office) //I swear, I have half a mind to chuck this job and become a hermit!

Synonyms

bag leave quit resign (from) retire (from) step aside (from) step down (from)

Related Words

abandon vacate

drop out (of) throw up

Synonymous Phrases

give notice

Near Antonyms

hire (out) join sign on (for)

Antonyms

keep stay (at)

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm //chucked a wad of paper at his friend's back

Synonyms

cast catapult dash fire fling heave hurl hurtle launch lob loft peg pelt pitch sling throw toss

Related Words

bowl dart flip gun hook pass roll shoot

buck eject impel precipitate project propel rifle thrust

Synonymous Phrases

let fly

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly West

substances intended to be eaten //after a long day, the cowboys lined up for some chuck
Synonyms

bread chow comestibles eatables eats edibles fare food foodstuffs grub meat provender provisions table tucker [chiefly Australian] viands victuals vittles
Related Words

commissary rations supplies
aliment nutriment
diet nourishment nurture sustenance
mess pap
ensilage feed fodder forage silage slop swill
feast meal refreshments regale repast spread
board
dish plate platter serving
finger food natural food
Near Antonyms

bane poison toxin venom

church

noun

ˈchərch

Definition (Entry 1 of 3)

a building for public religious services and especially Christian worship
often Church a body or organization of religious believers: such as
the institution of the Christian religion the Christian religion seen as an organization
the clergy or officialdom of a religious body //The word church … is put for the Persons that are ordained for the Ministry of the Gospel, that is to say, the Clergy — J. Ayliffe
denomination //the Presbyterian church
the whole body of Christians //… the One Church is the whole body gathered together from all ages … — J. H. Newman
congregation //… they had appointed elders for them in every church … — Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)
a public divine worship //goes to church every Sunday
the clerical profession //considered the church as a possible career

adjective

Definition (Entry 2 of 3)

of or relating to a church //church government
chiefly British of or relating to the established church

verb

churched; churching; churches

Definition (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb
to bring to church to receive one of its rites

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: Noun

kirk [chiefly Scottish] tabernacle temple

Examples

Noun

//This is the oldest church in town.
//They would like to be married in a church.
//I didn't see you at church last Sunday.
//He is a member of the Catholic Church.
//What church do you belong to?
//the church's attitude toward divorce
//the separation of church and state

First Known Use

Noun

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

church

noun

Synonyms

a building for public worship and especially Christian worship //a city that is noted for its many historic churches
Synonyms

kirk [chiefly Scottish] tabernacle temple
Related Words

abbey bethel cathedral chapel minster mission oratory sanctuary shrine
meetinghouse
mosque pagoda shul synagogue (also synagog)
a body of persons gathered for religious worship //spoke to the whole church at once
Synonyms

assembly congregation
Related Words

flock laity parish
communion confession denomination fold sect
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church //a time when few young men seem to want to join the church
Synonyms

clergy cloth first estate ministry spirituality spiritualty
Related Words

diaconate episcopate hierarchy presbytery
clerkship monkhood priesthood
Antonyms

laity

cinema

noun

cin·e·ma