temple1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛmp(ə)l/

noun

  • 1a building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.
  • (the Temple) either of two successive religious buildings of the Jews in Jerusalem. The first (957–586 bc) was built by Solomon and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; it contained the Ark of the Covenant. The second (515 bc- ad 70) was enlarged by Herod the Great from 20 bc and destroyed by the Romans during a Jewish revolt; all that remains is the Wailing Wall.
  • North American a synagogue.
  • a place of Christian public worship, especially a Protestant church in France.
  • a thing regarded as holy or likened to a temple, especially a person’s body: June treats her body like a temple: she takes yoga classes every day
    [with biblical allusion to 1 Corinthians 6:19]
  • a place devoted to or seen as the centre of a particular activity or interest: a temple of science
  • 2 (the Temple) a group of buildings in Fleet Street, London, which stand on land formerly occupied by the headquarters of the Knights Templar. Located there are the Inner and Outer Temple, two of the Inns of Court.

Origin:

Old English templ, tempel, reinforced in Middle English by Old French temple, both from Latin templum 'open or consecrated space'