资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Church \Church\, n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk,
   from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw.
   kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. ?
   the Lord's house, fr. ? concerning a master or lord, fr. ?
   master, lord, fr. ? power, might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra
   hero, Zend. [,c]ura strong, OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf.
   {Kirk}.]
   1. A building set apart for Christian worship.

   2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37.

   3. A formally organized body of Christian believers
      worshiping together. ``When they had ordained them elders
      in every church.'' --Acts xiv. 23.

   4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed,
      observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same
      ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman
      Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.

   5. The collective body of Christians.

   6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church
      of Brahm.

   7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community;
      ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array
      the power of the church against some moral evil.

            Remember that both church and state are properly the
            rulers of the people, only because they are their
            benefactors.                          --Bulwer.

   Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something
         belonging or relating to the church; as, church
         authority; church history; church member; church music,
         etc.

   {Apostolic church}. See under {Apostolic}.

   {Broad church}. See {Broad Church}.

   {Catholic or Universal} {church}, the whole body of believers
      in Christ throughout the world.

   {Church of England}, or {English church}, the Episcopal
      church established and endowed in England by law.

   {Church living}, a benefice in an established church.

   {Church militant}. See under {Militant}.

   {Church owl} (Zo["o]l.), the white owl. See {Barn owl}.

   {Church rate}, a tax levied on parishioners for the
      maintenance of the church and its services.

   {Church session}. See under {Session}.

   {Church triumphant}. See under {Triumphant}.

   {Church work}, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work
      of a particular church for the spread of religion.

   {Established church}, the church maintained by the civil
      authority; a state church.

资料来源 : WordNet®

established church
     n : the church that is recognized as the official church of a
         nation