Collins English-English Dictionary

church [tʃ3ːtʃ]

1. 1. n a building designed for public forms of worship, esp Christian worship

2. 2. n an occasion of public worship

3. 3. n the clergy as distinguished from the laity

4. 4. n [usually capital] institutionalized forms of religion as a political or social force

   conflict between Church and State

5. 5. n [usually capital] the collective body of all Christians

6. 6. n [often capital] a particular Christian denomination or group of Christian believers

7. 7. n [often capital] the Christian religion

8. 8. n (in Britain) the practices or doctrines of the Church of England and similar denominations - Compare chapel

9. 9. vt. [tr] [Church of England] to bring (someone, esp a woman after childbirth) to church for special ceremonies

10. 10. vt. [US] to impose church discipline upon

11. 11. vt. [Etymology] Old English cirice, from Late Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (doma) the Lord's (house), from kuriakos of the master, from kurios master, from kuros power