1. a building used for public Christian worship: "they came to church with me"Similarhouse of Godthe Lord's househouse of prayerkirk
▪ a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines: "the Church of England"Similardenominationsectcreedfaith
▪ the hierarchy of clergy of a Christian organization, especially the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England: "Isobel would enter the Church as a deacon"
▪ institutionalized religion as a political or social force:"the separation of church and state"
verb
1. take (a woman who has recently given birth) to church for a service of thanksgiving.archaic
Word OriginOld Englishcir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma) ‘Lord's (house)’, from kurios ‘master or lord’. Compare with kirk.
