temple Meaning & Definition
What Does Temple Mean?
Temple is used as a noun meaning A house of worship, especially: A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith. It can also mean A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith. As a verb, it means To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; to temple a god.
Temple at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈtɛm.pl̩/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | house of worship and place of worship |
| Plural | temples |
| Verb forms | temples, templing, templed |
Temple Definition (Noun)
- A house of worship, especially:
A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith.
The temple of Zeus was very large.
- A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith.
The temple of Zeus was very large.
- Synonym of synagogue, especially a non-Orthodox synagogue.
How often do you go to temple?
- As opposed to an LDS meetinghouse, a church closed to non-Mormons and necessary for particular rituals.
- A meeting house of the Oddfellows fraternity; its members.
- Any place regarded as holding a religious presence.
- Any place seen as an important centre for some activity.
a temple of commerce; a temple of drinking and dining
- Anything regarded as important or minutely cared for.
My body is my temple.
- A gesture wherein the forefingers are outstretched and touch pad to pad while the other fingers are clasped together.
Temple as a Verb
- To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; to temple a god
Noun
- The slightly flatter region, on either side of the head of a vertebrate, including a human, behind the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch, and forward of the ear.
- Either of the sidepieces on a set of spectacles, extending backwards from the hinge toward the ears and, usually, turning down around them.
Noun
- A contrivance used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.
Synonyms of Temple
Temple in a Sentence
The temple of Zeus was very large.
How often do you go to temple?
a temple of commerce; a temple of drinking and dining
My body is my temple.
Word Forms & Grammar
temple (plural temples)
temple (third-person singular simple present temples, present participle templing, simple past and past participle templed)
Words That Rhyme With Temple
Origin of Temple
Origin 1: From Middle English temple, from Old English templ, tempel, borrowed from Latin templum (“shrine, temple, area for auspices”). Compare Old High German tempal (“temple”), also a borrowing from the Latin. Displaced native Old English ealh.
Origin 2: From Middle English temple, from Old French temple, from Vulgar Latin *temp(u)la, from Latin tempora (“the temples”), plural of tempus (“temple, head, face”). See temporal bone.
Origin 3: Borrowed from Latin templum (“a small timber, a purlin”); compare templet and template.
Temple Pronunciation
Temple is pronounced /ˈtɛm.pl̩/ and has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (tɛm).
Common Questions About Temple
Is temple a noun or a verb?
Temple is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for temple?
Close synonyms of temple are house of worship and place of worship. See the full list of temple synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of temple?
The plural of temple is temples.
What is the past tense of temple?
The past tense of temple is templed. The present participle is templing.