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[ English

[ Etymology

Middle English chirche < Old English ċiriċe (“‘church’”), from West Germanic *kirika, from Ancient Greek κυριακόν (kuriakon), neuter form of κυριακός (“‘belonging to the lord’”) from κύριος (kurios), “‘ruler, lord’”). For vowel evolution, see bury. Greek κυριακόν (kuriakon) was used of houses of Christian worship since circa 300 AD, especially in the East, though it was less common in this sense than ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia), “‘congregation’”) or βασιλική (basilikē), “‘royal thing’”). An example of the direct Greek-to-Germanic progress of many Christian words, via the Goths; it was probably used by West Germanic people in their pre-Christian period. Also picked up by Slavic, via Old High German chirihha (compare Old Church Slavonic црькъі (crĭky), Russian церковь (cérkov’)). Romance and Celtic languages use variants of Latin ecclesia.

[ Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)tʃ

[ Noun

A church, with many architectural features traditional to such a structure.

church (plural churches)

1. A Christian house of worship; a building where religious services take place.

   There is a lovely little church in the valley.

2. A Christian religious organization, local or general.

   The Church of England separated from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.

   The church across the street has a service at 10 am.

3. A group of people who follow the same Christian religious beliefs, local or general.

   These worshippers comprise the Church of Christ.

   Be shepherds of the church of God (Acts 20:28).

4. A time of public worship; a worship service.

   I'll be there after church.

[ Synonyms

• chapel - small church
• kirk - Scottish

group of worshippers

• congregation

[ Derived terms

[ Related terms

[ Translations