tabernacle

C2 Topic:Religion & Belief

US /ˈtæbɚnækl̩/ UK /ˈtæbənækl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #41807

Meanings

1

noun
the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites according to the Hebrew Bible

The biblical account describes the tabernacle as a sacred tent carried through the wilderness.
2

noun
a building or place used for Christian worship, especially by certain Protestant groups

The congregation gathered in the wooden tabernacle for evening worship.
3

noun
a small locked receptacle in a church in which the consecrated Eucharist is reserved

A lamp burned beside the tabernacle on the altar.
4

noun
a temporary dwelling or bodily habitation, especially in literary or religious language

The writer called the body a fragile tabernacle for the spirit.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the portable sanctuary used... sanctuarytent of meeting

2 noun · a building or place used... chapelmeetinghouseplace of worship

3 noun · a small locked receptacle... aumbryreceptacle

4 noun · a temporary dwelling or... dwellinghabitation

Word family

Derived forms tabernacular

Related forms tent sanctuary temple

Etymology

From Middle English tabernacle and Old French tabernacle, from Latin tabernaculum ("tent, booth, or shed"), a diminutive of taberna ("hut"). Religious senses developed from the portable sanctuary described in the Hebrew Bible.

Topics

Religion & Belief

External links

# tabernacle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtæbɚnækl̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtæbənækl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 41807

## Meanings
1. the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites according to the Hebrew Bible
2. a building or place used for Christian worship, especially by certain Protestant groups
3. a small locked receptacle in a church in which the consecrated Eucharist is reserved
4. a temporary dwelling or bodily habitation, especially in literary or religious language

## Examples
- The biblical account describes the tabernacle as a sacred tent carried through the wilderness.
- The congregation gathered in the wooden tabernacle for evening worship.
- A lamp burned beside the tabernacle on the altar.
- The writer called the body a fragile tabernacle for the spirit.

## Synonyms
- sanctuary
- chapel
- dwelling

## Derived Forms
- tabernacular

## Related Forms
- tent
- sanctuary
- temple

## Etymology
From Middle English tabernacle and Old French tabernacle, from Latin tabernaculum ("tent, booth, or shed"), a diminutive of taberna ("hut"). Religious senses developed from the portable sanctuary described in the Hebrew Bible.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief

markdown