ministry
/ˈmɪnɪstrɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)
1
- a government department headed by a minister（政府）部：
the Ministry of Defence.
国防部。
2
- usu. in sing. the work or vocation of a minister of religion牧师职责（或职务）：
he is training for the ministry.
他正在接受培训做牧师。
2.1
- the period of tenure of a minister of religion牧师任期。
2.2
- the spiritual work or service of any Christian or a group of Christians, especially evangelism（基督徒的）神职, 宗教服务（尤指福音传道）：
a ministry of Christian healing.
基督教信仰治疗的服务。
3
- a period of government under one Prime Minister一任首相的执政期。
4
- mass noun rare the action of ministering to someone〈罕〉照料; 服务：
the soldiers were no less in need of his ministry.
战士们同样少不了他的照料。
词源
Middle English (in sense 2)： from Latin ministerium, from minister （see MINISTER）.