Dictionary
church
Pronunciation: (chûrch), [key]—
n.
1. a building for public Christian worship.
2. public worship of God or a religious service in such a building:
to attend church regularly.
3. (sometimes cap.) the whole body of Christian believers; Christendom.
4. (sometimes cap.) any division of this body professing the same creed and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a Christian denomination:
the Methodist Church.
5. that part of the whole Christian body, or of a particular denomination, belonging to the same city, country, nation, etc.
6. a body of Christians worshipping in a particular building or constituting one congregation:
She is a member of this church.
7. ecclesiastical organization, power, and affairs, as distinguished from the state:
separation of church and state; The missionary went wherever the church sent him.
8. the clergy and religious officials of a Christian denomination.
9. the Christian faith:
a return of intellectuals to the church.
10. (
cap.) the Christian Church before the Reformation.
11. (
cap.) the Roman Catholic Church.
12. the clerical profession or calling:
After much study and contemplation, he was prepared to enter the church.
13. a place of public worship of a non-Christian religion.
14. any non-Christian religious society, organization, or congregation:
the Jewish church.
—
v.t.
1. to conduct or bring to church, esp. for special services.
2. South Midland and Southern U.S.to subject to church discipline.
3. to perform a church service of thanksgiving for (a woman after childbirth).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
