church building
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A building used for public Christian worship: A structure specifically designed and consecrated for religious services, ceremonies, and communal prayer within the Christian tradition.
- A place of Christian worship: Refers to the physical edifice itself, distinct from the congregation or the institution.
Usage
- The term "church building" specifically denotes the physical structure. It is used to distinguish the building from the abstract concepts of "the church" as an institution or a body of believers.
- It is typically used in formal, descriptive, or architectural contexts.
Examples
- Noun:
- The historic church building was constructed in the 12th century.
- After the fire, the community raised funds to rebuild the church building.
- The architecture of the church building features a tall spire and stained glass windows.
Advanced Usage
- "to attend a service at a church building": Emphasizes the act of going to the physical location for worship.
- They attend a service at the local church building every Sunday.
- Used in legal, historical, or preservation contexts to specify the tangible property.
- The landmark designation protects the exterior of the church building.
Variants and Related Words
- Church (n): Can refer to the building, the institution, or the congregation. "Church building" is used for clarity when the focus is solely on the architecture or physical place.
- Chapel (n): A smaller place of Christian worship, often within a larger institution like a school, hospital, or a part of a church building.
- Cathedral (n): A church building that is the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's throne ().
- Basilica (n): A large, important church building granted special ceremonial rights by the Pope.
Synonyms
- Place of worship: A general term for any building where people gather to worship.
- House of God: A reverential term for a building dedicated to religious worship.
- Sanctuary: Can refer to the most sacred part of a church building or, by extension, the whole building as a holy place.
Related Phrases
- To consecrate a church building: To formally dedicate a building as sacred for religious use.
- The bishop will consecrate the new church building next month.
- Church building fund: A dedicated collection of money for the construction, maintenance, or repair of the physical structure.
- Donations to the church building fund are gratefully accepted.
Related Idioms
- (As) poor as a church mouse: Extremely poor. This idiom originates from the idea that a mouse living in a church building would find little food because no food is stored there.
- After losing his job, he was as poor as a church mouse.
Noun
- a place for public (especially Christian) worship
- the church was empty