temple
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: tĕm'p(ə)l
ipa: /ˈtɛmp(ə)l/
rhymes: -ɛmpəl
Forms: form: temples
Etymology: From Middle English temple, from Old English templ, tempel, borrowed from Latin templum (“shrine, temple, area for auspices”). Compare Old High German tempal (“temple”), also a borrowing from the Latin.
Senses: examples: text: The temple of Zeus was very large.
text: As of October 1968 Lukang, which had a resident population of between 27,000 and 28,000 people, had 39 temples. It is my impression that Lukang has more temples than do most Taiwanese communities of equivalent size. By temple I mean a structure that houses an image, altar, and incense pot, and is freely accessible to the general public. In speaking of the 39 temples of Lukang, I am omitting the numerous small shrines to the unknown dead (Yu Ying Kung), buildings dedicated to ancestors rather than deities (two), Christian churches (four), incense-burner associations that keep their incense pot or image in private homes, and private shrines such as the domestic altars of tang-ki (spirit mediums) or the shrine of the now defunct Ch'üan-chou guild, found in the back room of a drugstore endowed with the guild property.[...]Lukang, seen in comparative perspective, has a lot of temples.
ref: 1974, Donald R. DeGlopper, “Religion and Ritual in Lukang”, in Arthur P. Wolf, editor, Religion and Ritual in Chinese Society (Studies in Chinese Society), Stanford: Stanford University Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 46:
glosses: A house of worship, especially:
A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith.
examples: How often do you go to temple?
glosses: A house of worship, especially:
Synonym of synagogue, especially a non-Orthodox synagogue.
synonyms: word: synagogue
extra: especially a non-Orthodox synagogue
glosses: A house of worship, especially:
As opposed to an LDS meetinghouse, a church closed to non-Mormons and necessary for particular rituals.
glosses: A meeting house of the Oddfellows fraternity; its members.
glosses: Any place regarded as holding a religious presence.
examples: text: a temple of commerce; a temple of drinking and dining
glosses: Any place seen as an important centre for some activity.
examples: text: My body is my temple.
text: For nature crescent does not grow alone
In thews and bulks, but as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal.
ref: c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], lines 11–14:
glosses: Anything regarded as important or minutely cared for.
examples: text: Again Abdullah listened intently, his eyes closed, his ten fingers forming a temple of his hands in front of him.
ref: 2010, James LePore, A World I Never Made, page 251:
glosses: A gesture wherein the forefingers are outstretched and touch pad to pad while the other fingers are clasped together.
Synonyms: sense: house of worship
word: house of worship
sense: house of worship
word: place of worship
word: fane
word: temple
word: shrine
Hypernyms: word: building
Hyponyms: sense: house of worship
english: usually distinguished
translation: usually distinguished
word: church
english: usually distinguished
translation: usually distinguished
word: mosque
word: synagogue
word: gurudwara
word: gurdwara
english: dedicated to Athena
translation: dedicated to Athena
word: athenaeum
english: dedicated to Mithras
translation: dedicated to Mithras
word: Mithraeum
word: Iseum
english: dedicated to Isis
translation: dedicated to Isis
word: Iseion
english: dedicated to Serapis
translation: dedicated to Serapis
word: serapeum
english: a temple of 100 feet length or square
translation: a temple of 100 feet length or square
word: Hekatompedon
english: Germanic pagan
translation: Germanic pagan
word: hof
word: basilica
word: cathedral
word: chapel
word: masjid
word: ziggurat
Coordinate terms: sense: house of worship
english: smaller
translation: smaller
word: shrine
sense: exclusive Mormon house of worship
word: meeting house
sense: exclusive Mormon house of worship
english: non-exclusive
translation: non-exclusive
word: church
Meronyms: word: altar
word: Holy Book
word: Holy of Holies
word: minbar
word: pulpit
word: sanctum sanctorum
Derived terms: ancestral temple
antetemple
fire temple
Holy Temple
lineage temple
nontemple
temple block
temple dancer
Temple Ewell
Temple Fortune
temple garment
temple girl
temple-goer
temple-going
Temple Guiting
Temple Hirst
Temple in Jerusalem
templelike
Temple Meads
Temple Mills
Temple Mount
temple name
Temple of Heaven
temple of immensity
temple orange
Temple Sowerby
temple title
temple tree frog
temple viper
Related terms: word: Templar
word: :Category:en:Places of worship