house of worship
- noun
- The community gathers every Sunday at the local house of worship for services.
- houses of worship for religious
- activities in houses of worship
The week before, another blaze destroyed a beautiful House of worship in Islington.
- The week before, another blaze destroyed a beautiful House of worship in Islington.
- Californians will be able to return to restaurants, bars, movie theaters and houses of worship.
Examples
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And in countless instances, it is the only house of worship in the village or town.
Academic text (2001) -
Many people find peace and comfort in their house of worship during difficult times.
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This is a house of worship.
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If I did this in a house of worship, that would be fine.
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This is a house of worship!
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The United States has more houses of worship per capita than any other nation on earth.
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Americans are free to start houses of worship and other religious entities as they see fit.
Academic text (2009) -
Visits to local houses of worship can also be helpful in enhancing knowledge.
Academic text (2011) -
If nothing else, can't they even respect a house of worship?
Academic text (2009) -
Prior to the tornado, seven houses of worship served Greensburg's religious needs.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
A building where Christians meet to pray and worship
A building where people go to worship a god, for example in Hindu or ancient Greek religions
A building where Muslims pray, often with a tall tower called a minaret
A holy place where people go to pray and honor a saint or sacred object
A building where Jewish people meet to pray and learn
A holy part of a religious building around the altar
A place where people go to pray, like a temple or church
A place where people meet to pray or have religious services
A building where people gather to pray, like a church
A place where people pray that is often used by sailors
A large building used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for worship
A building where Muslims go to pray
A building where Christians meet to worship
A building where people meet to pray together
A simple building where people meet for religious services, often used by Quakers
A small chapel or room used for private prayer
A Hindu temple where people go to pray
A building where people meet for prayer or community events
A small building where people gather to worship, often used by Quakers
How Religious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a building for religious services' is directly derivable from combining 'house' (a building) with 'worship' (religious devotion) using the common English 'X of Y' composition. This is a transparent, compositional pattern found cross-linguistically (e.g. 'casa de culto'/'lieu de culte'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
House of worship comes from the simple image of a house as a building where people do worship, meaning 'to pray or show respect to a religion'. So it became the common name for 'a building where people gather for religious services'.