cult1 nouncult2 adjective
cultcult1 /kʌlt/ ●●○ noun 
WORD ORIGINcult
Origin:
1600-1700 French culte, from Latin cultus ‘care, worship’, from colere; ➔ CULTIVATEEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A spokesman denied the group is a cult and said members could leave whenever they wanted.
- Diet, therapy, exercise... It's all part of the cult of self-improvement.
- Dozens of religious cults have appeared in the US, most making a fortune for their leaders.
- Members of the cult are not allowed to marry or own property without permission.
- Two members of a religious cult have been linked to the recent murders.
- Carmelite churches are not infrequently associated with the cult of the Black Virgin.
- He is loved to the point of becoming a cult figure.
- In pagan cults there were two Kinds of sacrifices.
- In the Hellenistic and Roman periods mystery religions and cults spread through the ancient world.
- Many would say that a cult is considerably less than a minority.
- The cult of the dead at the tomb was a strictly religious function.
- Yevtushenko was no longer the cult figure he had been when he came to Britain at the association's invitation in 1962.
THESAURUSreligious group
one of the different groups within the Christian religion – used especially in names: · The Roman Catholic church is expanding.· members of the Church of England
a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion: · Our staff come from churches of all denominations.· Several denominations have developed among Jews.
a religious group that has separated from a larger group: · He is a leader in the powerful Ansar Sunni Muslim sect.
an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion: · Members of the cult all committed suicide on the same day.
[countable, uncountable] a set of beliefs about a god, and the ceremonies and customs that go with these beliefs. Also used when talking about all religions in general: · Judaism is one of the great religions of the world.· African tribal religions· a lecture on the role of religion in society
[countable, uncountable] a religion, especially one of the large important world religions. Also used when talking about religious belief in general: · The school welcomes children of all faiths.· His religious faith was always deeply important to him.
[countable, uncountable] the act of believing in a god or gods, or the ideas that someone believes because of their religion: · We all have the right to freedom of belief.· They were persecuted because of their religious beliefs.
[countable] a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion: · The church is the largest Christian denomination in the United States.
[countable] a group of people who have their own set of religious beliefs and customs, especially a group that has separated from a larger group: · He became a member of a Buddhist sect.· There are two sects in Islam - the Sunni and the Shi'a.· an obscure religious sect
[singular, uncountable] the Christian religion in general: · How great is the influence of the church in present-day society?· The church has a lot to say about this.
(also Church) [countable] one of the separate groups within the Christian religion: · the Methodist Church
[countable] an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion – often used to show disapproval: · The suicides have been linked to a strange religious cult.· the traditional pagan cults of Ancient Rome
[countable, uncountable] formal the religion that you belong to, and the set of beliefs that you accept in order to belong to it – often used in phrases when saying that your religion should not affect how you are treated: · There must be no discrimination because of race, colour, or creed.· You will be rewarded whatever your race or creed.
[countable] formal a group of people who share the same religious beliefs – used especially in official contexts: · the benefits of living within a supportive faith community
Longman Language Activatora religious group a religious group that is part of a larger religious group, but has slightly different beliefs and ceremonies: · Islam has two main sects: the Sunnis and the Shias.· A monk named Kashyapa is regarded as the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism.· She is a member of a religious sect that was formed from various aspects of Asian religions. · a fundamentalist sect
a smaller group within the Christian religion: · The evangelical churches are particularly strong in the big cities.· He took us to a Pentecostal meeting in one of the city's many black churches.the Catholic/Methodist/Mormon etc Church: · Even though I belong to the Catholic Church, I don't agree with everything it says.the Church of England/Scotland: · The Church of England finally agreed to accept the ordination of women priests.
an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion, and that many people think is strange and possibly harmful to the people who get involved in it: · Dozens of religious cults have appeared in the US, most making a fortune for their leaders.· Members of the cult are not allowed to marry or own property without permission.· A spokesman denied the group is a cult and said members could leave whenever they wanted.
WORD SETSacolyte, nounafterlife, nounagnostic, nounangel, nounanimism, nounanoint, verbapostasy, nounapostate, nounarchangel, nounbelieve, verbbeliever, nounbell-ringer, nounbless, verbblessed, adjectiveblessing, nouncelebrant, nounChristian Science, nouncircumcise, verbcircumcision, nouncommunion, nounconfession, nounconvent, nounconversion, nounconvert, nouncoreligionist, nouncowl, nouncredo, nouncreed, nouncult, noundaemon, nounDecalogue, noundefrock, verbdeism, noundenomination, noundenominational, adjectivedevotee, noundevotion, noundevotional, adjectivedevout, adjectivedivine, adjectivedivinity, noundruid, nounfaith, nounfast day, nounfeast, nounfervour, nounfiesta, nounfollow, verbfrankincense, noungentile, noungod, noungoddess, noungrace, nounhabit, nounhair shirt, nounhallelujah, interjectionhallowed, adjectivehalo, nounheathen, adjectiveheathen, nounheaven, nounheavenly, adjectivehell, nounheresy, nounheretic, nounhermit, nounhermitage, nounheterodox, adjectivehigh priest, nounidol, nounidolatry, nounincarnation, nounincense, nouninfidel, nounintercession, nouninvocation, nouninvoke, verbirreligious, adjective-ism, suffixlayman, nounlaywoman, nounlibation, nounliturgical, adjectiveliturgy, nounmartyr, nounmartyr, verbmeditate, verbmeditation, nounmission, nounmonastery, nounmonastic, adjectivemonk, nounmonotheism, nounMoonie, nounMormon, nounMosaic, adjectivemystery play, nounmystic, nounmystical, adjectivemysticism, nounneophyte, nounnovice, nounnovitiate, nounnuminous, adjectivenun, nounnunnery, nounoblation, nounobservance, nounoffering, nounOlympian, adjectiveordain, verborder, nounorthodox, adjectiveotherworldly, adjectivepagan, adjectivepagan, nounpantheism, nounpantheon, nounParsee, nounpilgrim, nounpilgrimage, nounpious, adjectivepluralism, nounpolytheism, nounpractise, verbpray, verbprayer, nounprayer wheel, nounpreach, verbpreacher, nounpriest, nounpriestess, nounpriesthood, nounpriestly, adjectiveprophet, nounprophetess, nounpurify, verbRasta, nounRastafarian, nounRastaman, nounRE, nounrecant, verbreincarnation, nounreligious, adjectivereligiously, adverbreliquary, nounrepent, verbretreat, nounrevelation, nounrevivalism, nounrite, nounritual, nounsacred, adjectivesacrifice, nounsacrifice, verbsacrificial, adjectivesanctify, verbsanctity, nounsanctuary, nounsanctum, nounsatanism, nounscripture, nounsect, nounsectarian, adjectiveservice, nounshaman, nounShinto, nounshrine, nounsin, nounsin, verbsinful, adjectivesinner, nounsoul, nounspirit, nounspiritual, adjectivespiritualism, nounspirituality, nounSr, sun god, nounsuppliant, nounsupplicant, nounsupplication, nounSupreme Being, nounTao, nounTaoism, nountemple, nountenet, nounthanksgiving, nountheism, nountheo-, prefixtheocracy, nountheologian, nountheological college, nountheology, nountonsure, nountranscendental, adjectivetranscendental meditation, nountransmigration, noununbelief, noununbeliever, nounungodly, adjectiveunholy, adjectiveunorthodox, adjectivevisionary, nounvoodoo, nounvotary, nounworship, verbworship, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The children were abused as part of a satanic ritual.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
1[countable] an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion2[countable] a fashionable belief, idea, or attitude that influences people’s livescult of (=someone who a particular group of people admire)· He became a cult hero among surfers.
(=one that a small group of people like very much and watch often)· a showing of the cult movie ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
The children were abused as part of a satanic ritual.· They have been linked to a religious cult, 330 of whose members died in a blaze last week.· Kim created an impermeable and absolutist state that many have compared to a religious cult.· The popularity of religious cult communities reveals the extent to which many people have turned their backs on the family.· The Street has made mistakes, of course-that nutty religious cult being one of the worst.· The daemons are closely linked with religious cult activity.· A jogger who had brushed aside two evangelists from a religious cult had been pushed to the ground grazing his knee.· Many early religious cults revolved around sexuality.
· One theory is it's linked to a Satanic cult.
NOUN· He often introduces himself to boomer types as the B-string lyricist for that perennial underground cult band, the Grateful Dead.
· Healing spas were based on a local cult figure and the devotees underwent rituals which included bathing and communal eating.· I start by telling him that he's quite the cult figure here in Annapolis, and he looks stunned.· He became a cult figure in which notions of salvation by innocent suffering have a place.· Vanessa Nygaard is a cult figure waiting to happen, a gale-force personality blowing through Maples Pavilion.· This, however, did not prevent him from becoming a cult figure among some of the Jacobins and other revolutionaries.· He is loved to the point of becoming a cult figure.· Deborah Warner has become a cult figure for stark and emotive work.
· Brad Pitt in the cult film Fight Club was a fraudulent soap salesman.
· Something of a cult hero to modern limestone climbers, or so I understand.· La Norte, it would seem, is a bit of a cult hero among her work colleagues.
· Only two have so far been identified: one of the cult leaders and the manager of the church farm.
· The bloody siege of the ranch complex in Waco has already left at least six police and cult members dead.· Four federal agents and perhaps up to 15 cult members died.· His only hope is Case Hardin, a female ex-drug addict and cult member.
· Propping up the world's most enduring dictator is a slavish personality cult, and rigid control of the nation.· But at no time is this conditioning of mild hysteria and personality cult a wholesome thing.· However, Nyerere was said to be personally opposed to this kind of personality cult, and eventually the policy was changed.· It was also a result of the growth of the press, which delighted in personality cults.· I don't agree with people who say it was just a leadership personality cult effort.· Mr Koizumi is the centre of a virtual personality cult in his homeland, with support ratings of almost 90 %.· The Sicilian tyrants did not, however, take the personality cult as far as the successors of Alexander.
· Miranda Seymour's lucid biography arrives as the general reader's guide to Mary Shelley's ascent to academic cult status.· This is basically salon music, but the playing elevates it to cult status.· International rugby has cult status and when things get that popular, it's who you know, not what you are.· True, the movie enjoyed a brief cult status.· Among design graduates, this has translated into a near cult status.· Yet, Kane gradually began to achieve cult status among critics.· By the start of the Eighties, he was beginning to transcend his cult status.
VERB· There are two other villas with unusual features which could possibly be associated with pagan cults.· Carmelite churches are not infrequently associated with the cult of the Black Virgin.
· He became a cult figure in which notions of salvation by innocent suffering have a place.· What keeps extraordinary groups from becoming cults?· The puppets which first appeared in the sixties became cult viewing when the programmes were recently repeated.· Pelevin has chosen the fantastic as a suitable analogue, and become a cult literary bad-boy.· This, however, did not prevent him from becoming a cult figure among some of the Jacobins and other revolutionaries.· He is loved to the point of becoming a cult figure.· Deborah Warner has become a cult figure for stark and emotive work.
Diet, exercise ... It’s all part of this cult of self-improvement.3[singular] a group of people who are very interested in a particular thing: O'Brien has a cult of devoted readers.4[countable, uncountable] formal a system of religious beliefs and practices → personality cultcult1 nouncult2 adjective
cultcult2 adjective [only before noun] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Alex Garland's cult novel 'The Beach' was later made into a film starring Leonardo di Caprio.
- Frankie Knuckles is a cult figure in dance music.
Longman Language Activatorfashionable
clothes, styles, places or activities that are fashionable are popular at the present time, but will probably only be popular for a short time: · The store sells fashionable clothes at prices you can afford.· a style of painting that was fashionable in the 1930s· Kate spent her summers in Cape Cod working in a fashionable resort.· They recently opened a cafe on Manhattan's fashionable East Side.
spoken informal said to show approval of something that is fashionable, interesting, or attractive -- used especially by young people: · He was wearing these really cool sunglasses.· Many young people start smoking because they think it looks cool.
informal very fashionable now: · one of the hot young writers of the decade· They're supposed to be the hottest thing since the Beatles.
informal very fashionable, often for a short time -- used especially humorously or to show disapproval: · a trendy street market in the centre of Paris· Delgado predicts that blonde hair will become trendy this summer.· Trendy bars and restaurants are opening and inexpensive apartments in the area are getting hard to find.
well designed, and attractive in a fashionable way: · She was wearing a stylish black woollen dress.· stylish modern furniture
very fashionable in an expensive way, and showing a lot of good judgement about good style: · They live in a chic apartment overlooking the Seine.· a chic restaurant in Boston· The east side of the city has become very chic in the past few years.
fashionable and only known about by a small group of people - use this especially about things or people that later become very famous: · Alex Garland's cult novel 'The Beach' was later made into a film starring Leonardo di Caprio.· 60s cult band The Velvet Underground· Frankie Knuckles is a cult figure in dance music.
informal fashionable at the present time: · Purple seems to be in this year.be the in place: · Gstaad is the in place to go skiing in winter.the in thing to do: · Cycling to work has become the in thing to do.
informal doing things or done according to the latest fashion: · The South Side is becoming a really hip place to live.· I hate old people who dress like teenagers and think they're hip.
informal fashionable and exciting: · In four to five years, this will be a happening film festival.· The town's OK, but not what you'd call a happening place.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The children were abused as part of a satanic ritual.
(=someone who a particular group of people admire)· He became a cult hero among surfers.
(=one that a small group of people like very much and watch often)· a showing of the cult movie ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
The children were abused as part of a satanic ritual.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
cult film/band/figure etc a film, music group etc that has become very popular but only among a particular group of people: - Brad Pitt in the cult film Fight Club was a fraudulent soap salesman.
- He became a cult figure in which notions of salvation by innocent suffering have a place.
- He is loved to the point of becoming a cult figure.
- He often introduces himself to boomer types as the B-string lyricist for that perennial underground cult band, the Grateful Dead.
- Healing spas were based on a local cult figure and the devotees underwent rituals which included bathing and communal eating.
- I start by telling him that he's quite the cult figure here in Annapolis, and he looks stunned.
- This, however, did not prevent him from becoming a cult figure among some of the Jacobins and other revolutionaries.
- Vanessa Nygaard is a cult figure waiting to happen, a gale-force personality blowing through Maples Pavilion.
the 1980s cult movie ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’ The actor James Dean acquired the status of a cult hero.