1
- a building used for public Christian worship教堂, 礼拜堂：
they came to church with me.
他们和我一起来教堂做礼拜。
1.1
- （一般作Church）a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines教会, 教派：
the Church of England.
英国国教。
1.2
the Church
the hierarchy of clergy of such an organization, especially the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church（尤指英国国教或天主教的）教会全体（各级）神职人员。
1.3
- mass noun institutionalized religion as a political or social force（作为一种政治与社会力量）制度化的宗教势力：
the separation of church and state.
政教分离。
with obj.
- archaic take (a woman who has recently given birth) to church for a service of thanksgiving〈古〉把（近日生产的妇女）带到教堂接受感恩仪式。
词源
Old English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon （dōma） 'Lord's (house)', from kurios 'master or lord'. Compare with KIRK.