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Glite Dictionary
communion table

communion table

5.5
A table in a church where bread and wine are placed for Communion
  • noun
  • /kəˈmjunɪən ˈteɪbəl/
translation icon : mesa de comunión
  • During the ceremony, the priest placed the bread and wine on the communion table for the congregation to partake.

Examples

  • The Communion table is a reminder that God put the world square with Himself through the Messiah.

    Blog text (18)

  • One Iraqi refugee asked, "How are we going to feel the joy of Christmas when our churches were attacked and our own children were killed in front of the church communion table?"

    Blog text (2)

  • Next to our Communion tables, let there be other tables full of donated food items that congregants can deliver to needy persons immediately after worship services.

    Blog text (27)

  • The church's communion table is beautifully adorned with fresh flowers for the Sunday service.

  • Members of the church gathered around the communion table to share their thoughts and prayers before the service.

Synonyms

altar
vscommunion table
238 2.9

A raised table in a religious building where people place offerings and pray

is restricted to the place for bread and wine during Eucharist
Lord's table
vscommunion table
8.4

A table in a church where the priest places the bread and wine for Holy Communion

is the alternative traditional phrase used interchangeably in Christian services
retable
vscommunion table
  • Archaic
9.9

Table at the altar where the priest places the bread and wine during a service

is the modern common phrase rather than the archaic term

How Ornate

high altar
  • Specialized
1 7.5
altar
238 2.9
communion table
5.5

Surface Forms

communion table singular
communion tables plural

Morphology

communion + table

The meaning is directly compositional: 'communion' (the religious rite involving bread and wine) plus 'table' yields a table used for Communion where the elements are placed. This noun+noun purpose relationship is a common and predictable pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning (aside from any specific liturgical details).

Etymology

Communion table comes from the Christian story of the 'Last Supper', when Jesus sat at a table and shared bread and wine with his friends. Churches set a table for communion to hold the bread and wine, so the phrase means the table used in that 'service'.