church S1 W1 / tʃɜtʃ $ tʃɜrtʃ / 名词
1 [可数名词] a building where Christians go to worship → cathedral :
a short church service
church bells
2 [不可数名词] the religious ceremonies in a church :
Mrs Dobson invited us to dinner after church.
My parents go to church every Sunday.
at church
We didn’t see you at church this morning.
3 [可数名词] ( also Church ) one of the separate groups within the Christian religion :
the Catholic Church
4 [单数形式，不可数] the institution of the Christian religion, and all the priests and other ministers who are part of it :
the church’s attitude towards marriage
separation of church and state
COLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + church
the local church (= the one in a particular area, or near where you live ) The local church dates from the 12th century.
a parish church British English (= the main Christian church in a particular area ) This is the parish church for three villages near here.
a country/town church an attractive country church surrounded by trees
a (Roman) Catholic church I followed the crowds to the Roman Catholic church for Mass.
动词
go to church ( also attend church formal ) (= go to a regular religious ceremony in a church ) Do you go to church?
marry/get married in a church I’d like to get married in a church.
church + NOUN
a church service (= a religious ceremony in a church ) There’s a church service at 10:30 every Sunday morning.
a church hall (= a large room in a church ) The dance was held in the church hall.
church music church music for small choirs
church bells I could hear the church bells ringing.
a church tower I looked at the clock on the church tower.
a church spire/steeple (= a church tower with a pointed top ) The tall church spires could be seen from far away.
the church choir (= a group of people who lead the singing in a church ) Steve’s a member of the local church choir.
a church wedding (= in a church ) She wants to have a church wedding.
THESAURUS Meaning 3
religious group
church one of the different groups within the Christian religion – used especially in names : The Roman Catholic church is expanding. | members of the Church of England
denomination a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion : Our staff come from churches of all denominations. | Several denominations have developed among Jews.
sect a religious group that has separated from a larger group : He is a leader in the powerful Ansar Sunni Muslim sect.
cult an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion : Members of the cult all committed suicide on the same day.