A church is a building in which Christians worship. You usually refer to this place as church when you are talking about the time that people spend there.
...one of Britain's most historic churches.
...St Helen's Church.
I didn't see you in church on Sunday.
Synonyms: chapel, temple, cathedral, kirk [Scottish] More Synonyms of church
2. countable noun [oft adjective NOUN]
A Church is one of the groups of people within the Christian religion, for example Catholics or Methodists, that have their own beliefs, clergy, and forms of worship.
...co-operation with the Church of Scotland. [+ of]
Church leaders said he was welcome to return.
...the separation of church and state.
3.
See broad church
More Synonyms of church
church in British English
(tʃɜːtʃ)
noun
1.
a building designed for public forms of worship, esp Christian worship
2.
an occasion of public worship
3.
the clergy as distinguished from the laity
4. (usually capital)
institutionalized forms of religion as a political or social force
conflict between Church and State
5. (usually capital)
the collective body of all Christians
6. (often capital)
a particular Christian denomination or group of Christian believers
7. (often capital)
the Christian religion
8.
(in Britain) the practices or doctrines of the Church of England and similar denominations
Compare chapel (sense 4b) ▶ Related adjective: ecclesiastical
verb(transitive)
9.
to bring (someone, esp a woman after childbirth) to church for special ceremonies
10. US
to impose church discipline upon
Word origin
Old English cirice, from Late Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma) the Lord's (house), from kuriakos of the master, from kurios master, from kuros power
Church in British English
(tʃɜːtʃ)
noun
Charlotte. born 1986, Welsh soprano, who made her name with the album Voice of an Angel (1998) when she was 12
Church in American English
(tʃɜrtʃ)
Frederic Edwin1826-1900; U.S. landscape painter
church in American English
(tʃɜrtʃ)
noun
1.
a building set apart or consecrated for public worship, esp. one for Christian worship
2.
religious service or public worship, esp. among Christians
3. [usuallyC-]
a.
all Christians considered as a single body
b.
a particular sect or denomination of Christians
4.
the ecclesiastical government of a particular religious group, or its power, as opposed to secular government
5.
the profession of the clergy; clerical profession
6.
a group of worshipers; congregation
verb transitive
7.
to bring (esp. a woman after childbirth) to church for special services
adjective
8.
having to do with organized Christian worship
9.
of or connected with a church
Word origin
ME chirche, kirke < OE cirice (& ON kirkja < OE) < Gmc *kirika < LGr(Ec) *kyrikē < Gr kyriakē (oikia), Lord's (house) < kyriakos, belonging to the Lord < kyrios, ruler < kyros, supreme power < IE base *eu-, a swelling, to be strong, hero > cave
He was gone by the time the doors opened and the pallbearers shuffled from the church with the casket.
Mark Mills AMAGANSETT (2004)
Discreetly he stepped towards the players, who were standing in a gang by the church door with the officiating priest.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2004)
Janet had also done voluntary community work for her local church group, helping the elderly.
Peter Robinson AFTERMATH (2004)
In other languages
church
British English: church /tʃɜːtʃ/ NOUN
A church is a building in which Christians worship.
I didn't see you in church on Sunday.
American English: church
Arabic: كَنِيسَة
Brazilian Portuguese: igreja
Chinese: 教堂
Croatian: crkva
Czech: kostel
Danish: kirke
Dutch: kerk
European Spanish: iglesia
Finnish: kirkko
French: église
German: Kirche
Greek: εκκλησία
Italian: chiesa
Japanese: 教会
Korean: 교회
Norwegian: kirke
Polish: kościół
European Portuguese: igreja
Romanian: biserică
Russian: церковь
Latin American Spanish: iglesia
Swedish: kyrka
Thai: โบสถ์
Turkish: kilise
Ukrainian: церква
Vietnamese: nhà thờ
All related terms of 'church'
Church Army
a voluntary Anglican organization founded in 1882 to assist the parish clergy
church hall
a building near to or attached to a church suitable for social gatherings
church key
a device with a triangular point at one end for making holes in the tops of cans
church mode
a manner or way of doing, acting, or existing
church owl
any owl of the genus Tyto , esp T. alba , having a pale brown and white plumage , long slender legs, and a heart-shaped face: family Tytonidae
church text
a heavy typeface in Gothic style
Free Church
any Protestant Church , esp the Presbyterian , other than the Established Church
High Church
the party or movement within the Church of England stressing continuity with Catholic Christendom , the authority of bishops , and the importance of sacraments , rituals , and ceremonies
Low Church
the school of thought in the Church of England stressing evangelical beliefs and practices
New Church
a sect founded in 1787, based on Swedenborgianism
Broad Church
You can refer to an organization, group, or area of activity as a broad church when it includes a wide range of opinions, beliefs , or styles .
Church Father
any of the writers on Christian doctrine of the pre-Scholastic period
church parade
a parade by servicemen or members of a uniformed organization for the purposes of attending religious services
church pastor
A pastor is a member of the Christian clergy in some Protestant churches.
church school
A church school is a school which has a special relationship with a particular branch of the Christian Church, and where there is strong emphasis on worship and the teaching of religion .
Coptic Church
the ancient Christian Church of Egypt
Early Church
→ the Early Church
Greek Church
the established Church of Greece, governed by the holy synod of Greece, in which the Metropolitan of Athens has primacy of honour
house church
a group of Christians meeting for worship in a private house
Latin Church
the Roman Catholic Church
Mother Church
the church viewed in its protective and nurturing role
parish church
the church in a subdivision of a diocese
rural church
A church is a building in which Christians worship . You usually refer to this place as church when you are talking about the time that people spend there.
state church
→ established church
Anglican Church
any Church of the Anglican Communion or the Anglican Communion itself
Armenian Church
the national Church of Armenia , founded in the early fourth century ad , the dogmas and liturgy of which are similar to those of the Orthodox Church
Baptist Church
→ the Baptist Church
Catholic Church
any of several Churches claiming to have maintained continuity with the ancient and undivided Church
church calendar
See ecclesiastical calendar (sense 2 )
church council
a body of lay delegates chosen from the congregation and charged with supporting the pastor in religious instruction , contributions to the church, etc
church history
You can refer to the events of the past as history . You can also refer to the past events which concern a particular topic or place as its history.
church leaders
The leader of a group of people or an organization is the person who is in control of it or in charge of it.
church service
an instance of a religious service in a church
Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic , esp as preserved in the liturgical use of the Orthodox church
church wedding
a wedding ceremony performed in a church and having a religious rather than civil content
Eastern Church
any of the Christian Churches of the former Byzantine Empire
Moravian Church
a Protestant Church originating in Moravia in 1722 as a revival of the sect of Bohemian Brethren . It has close links with the Lutheran Church
national church
an independent church within a country, usually representing the prevalent religion
Orthodox Church
the collective body of those Eastern Churches that were separated from the western Church in the 11th century and are in communion with the Greek patriarch of Constantinople
station church
any of the churches in Rome that have been used from ancient times as points of assembly for religious processions
Western Church
the part of Christendom that derives its liturgy , discipline , and traditions principally from the patriarchate of Rome , as contrasted with the part that derives these from the other ancient patriarchates, esp that of Constantinople
a broad church
an organization, group or area of activity that includes a wide range of opinions , beliefs or styles
Byzantine Church
the collective body of those Eastern Churches that were separated from the western Church in the 11th century and are in communion with the Greek patriarch of Constantinople
cathedral church
the principal church in a diocese
charismatic church
a church that emphasizes communal prayer and the charismatic gifts of speaking in tongues , healing, etc
church attendance
Someone's attendance at an event or an institution is the fact that they are present at the event or go regularly to the institution.
church hierarchy
The hierarchy of an organization such as the Church is the group of people who manage and control it.
Church of Rome
the Roman Catholic Church
collegiate church
a church that has an endowed chapter of canons and prebendaries attached to it but that is not a cathedral
community church
an independent or denominational church in a particular community
Chinese translation of 'church'
church
(tʃəːtʃ)
n
(c/u) (= building) 教堂 (jiàotáng) (座, zuò)
(c) (= denomination) 教会(會) (jiàohuì) (个(個), gè)
the Church of England英国(國)国(國)教会(會) (Yīngguó guójiàohuì)
1 (noun)
Definition
a building for public Christian worship
one of the country's most historic churches
Synonyms
chapel
temple
a small Hindu temple
cathedral
kirk (Scottish)
minster
basilica
tabernacle
place of worship
house of God
megachurch (US)
procathedral
2 (noun)
Definition
a particular Christian denomination
the Roman Catholic Church
Synonyms
denomination
Acceptance of women preachers varies from one denomination to another.
belief
He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
sect
Do you belong to some religious sect?
persuasion
people who are of a different political persuasion
creed
The centre is open to all, no matter what race or creed.
communion
religious group
school
He was never a member of any school.
hauhau (New Zealand)
related words
related adjectiveecclesiastical
Additional synonyms
in the sense of belief
Definition
a principle, etc., accepted as true, often without proof
He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
Synonyms
faith,
principles,
doctrine,
ideology,
creed,
dogma,
tenet,
credence,
credo
in the sense of creed
Definition
a system of beliefs or principles
The centre is open to all, no matter what race or creed.
Synonyms
belief,
principles,
profession,
doctrine,
canon,
persuasion,
dogma,
tenet,
credo,
catechism,
articles of faith
in the sense of persuasion
Definition
a set of beliefs
people who are of a different political persuasion