v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Churched p. pr. & vb. n. Churching. ] To bless according to a prescribed form, or to unite with in publicly returning thanks in church, as after deliverance from the dangers of childbirth; as, the churching of women. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. kyriako`n the Lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power, might; akin to Skr. çūra hero, Zend. çura strong, OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. Kirk. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A building set apart for Christian worship. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [ Obs. ] Acts xix. 37. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together. “When they had ordained them elders in every church.” Acts xiv. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian church. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The collective body of Christians. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors. Bulwer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Church is often used in composition to denote something belonging or relating to the church; as, church authority; church history; church member; church music, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Apostolic church. See under Apostolic. --
Broad church. See Broad Church. --
Catholic church or
Universal church, the whole body of believers in Christ throughout the world. --
Church of England, or
English church, the Episcopal church established and endowed in England by law. --
Church living, a benefice in an established church. --
Church militant. See under Militant. --
Church owl (Zool.), the white owl. See Barn owl. --
Church rate, a tax levied on parishioners for the maintenance of the church and its services. --
Church session. See under Session. --
Church triumphant. See under Triumphant. --
Church work, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work of a particular church for the spread of religion. --
Established church, the church maintained by the civil authority; a state church. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A church or parish festival (as in commemoration of the dedication of a church), at which much ale was used. Wright. Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A seat in the porch of a church. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The institution, government, or authority of a church. [ R. ] Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who attends church. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Habitually attending church. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Summoning to church. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sound of the churchgoing bell. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Church + haw a yard. ] Churchyard. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Strict adherence to the forms or principles of some church organization; sectarianism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a church. T. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]