{
    "term": "church",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a building where Christians go to attend services, pray, etc.",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The procession moved into the church."
                },
                {
                    "text": "England has some beautiful **parish churches**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a church tower/spire"
                },
                {
                    "text": "church services"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was actively involved in church groups."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The church is dedicated to St Paul."
                },
                {
                    "text": "St Paul's Church"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The church was consecrated in 1250."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's an interesting organ in the church."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a chamber concert at our local church"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a church youth group"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They took photos of the bride and groom outside the church."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The service will be held at the parish church on December 16."
                },
                {
                    "text": "church bells"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She sings in the church choir."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We are hiring the church hall for the party."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The service is open to all church members."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The church was built in the 15th century."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Religion and festivals", "Buildings"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["local", "parish", "village"],
                "verb + church": ["build", "consecrate", "found"],
                "church + noun": ["building", "bells", "clock"],
                "preposition": ["at a/​the church", "in a/​the church"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a service or services in a church",
            "sensetop": "at churchin church",
            "labels": "(British English)(North American English)(British and North American English)(North American English)",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "How often do you **go to church**?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They're at church *(= attending a church service)*.",
                    "contextForm": "at church"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They're in church.",
                    "contextForm": "in church"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lots of people still get married in church."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Church is at 9 o'clock."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do you go to church?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Mrs Parsons wasn't at church this Sunday."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We decided not to get married in church."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Church attendance is declining."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She attended church regularly."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + church": ["attend", "go to"],
                "church + noun": ["attendance", "service", "music"],
                "preposition": ["after church", "before church", "at church"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a particular group of Christians",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the Anglican Church"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the Catholic Church"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the Free Churches"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Linda joined the **local** Methodist **church**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the Church of England"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the Protestant Church"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Orthodox Christian churches"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Small evangelical churches often provide their members with a strong sense of community and family."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["high", "low", "evangelical"],
                "verb + church": ["establish", "found", "lead"],
                "church + verb": ["teach"],
                "church + noun": ["authorities", "elder", "leader"],
                "phrases": ["a member of a church"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "the ministers of the Christian religion; the institution of the Christian religion",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The Church has a duty to condemn violence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the conflict between Church and State"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to go into the Church *(= to become a Christian minister)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He served the Church for over sixty years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She left the Church after a loss of faith."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He went into the Church when he was 23."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The early Church believed miracles were proof of who Jesus was."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She loves all the high church traditions—incense and processions and vestments."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He entered the Church and became chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They called for the separation of Church and State."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She attacked the established Church for its narrow views."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Church leaders instructed families to set aside time to learn the gospel."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["high", "low", "evangelical"],
                "verb + church": ["establish", "found", "lead"],
                "church + verb": ["teach"],
                "church + noun": ["authorities", "elder", "leader"],
                "phrases": ["a member of a church"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "an organization that accepts a wide range of opinions",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The party aims to be a broad church with members from all sections of society."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "big tent"
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tʃɜːtʃ/",
                "audio": "ch/church/church__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tʃɜːrtʃ/",
                "audio": "ch/church/church__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "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."
}