tabernacle

1 of 2

noun

tab·​er·​na·​cle ˈta-bər-ˌna-kəl How to pronounce tabernacle (audio)
1
: a house of worship
specifically : a large building or tent used for evangelistic services
2
: a receptacle for the consecrated elements of the Eucharist
especially : an ornamental locked box used for reserving the Communion hosts
3
a
often capitalized : a tent sanctuary used by the Israelites during the Exodus
b
archaic : a dwelling place
c
archaic : a temporary shelter : tent
tabernacular adjective

tabernacle

2 of 2

verb

tabernacled; tabernacling ˈta-bər-ˌna-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tabernacle (audio)

intransitive verb

: to take up temporary residence
especially : to inhabit a physical body

Examples of tabernacle in a Sentence

Noun worshippers gathering at the Baptist tabernacle on a bright Sunday morning
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Near Houston, a tabernacle was stolen and — despite being made of precious metals worth several thousand dollars — turned up a few days later behind a Burger King, intact . . . Tommy Valentine, National Review, 13 Jan. 2024 The memory of that other space consecrated her own roving tabernacle of Black performance. Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2023 But working out with Woodland at this tabernacle on Brookside Drive has been a constant along Head’s basketball odyssey. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2023 In Ashland, a Chautauqua tabernacle with a 40-foot-high wooden dome was constructed in 1893. Kturnqui, oregonlive, 12 Apr. 2023 Find it: Grand Ole Opry, 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214; 615-871-6779 See a show at Nashville's most legendary venue The Ryman Auditorium began as a religious tabernacle in 1890. Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 18 Mar. 2023 Set in a grove surrounding an open-air tabernacle, the cottages remain privately owned, with the campground overseen by the association, which along with maintenance of the area (homeowner association fees range from $12,000-$14,000, said Lucier) also imposes rules. Linda Laban, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Jan. 2021 Those 16th-century Italian tabernacle candlesticks? Owen Holmes, House Beautiful, 13 Dec. 2022 The man reportedly began tampering with the tabernacle, removing the cross sitting atop it, before being discovered and fleeing. Roman Catholic, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tabernacle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin tabernaculum, from Latin, tent, from taberna hut

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tabernacle was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near tabernacle

Cite this Entry

“Tabernacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabernacle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tabernacle

noun
tab·​er·​na·​cle
ˈtab-ər-ˌnak-əl
1
a
often capitalized : a tent used as a place of worship by the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness with Moses
b
archaic : a dwelling place
2
: a locked box used to hold Communion breads
3
: a house of worship

More from Merriam-Webster on tabernacle

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