tabernacle

1 of 2

noun

tab·​er·​na·​cle ˈta-bər-ˌna-kəl 

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

ˌta-bər-ˈna-kyə-lər 

adjective

tabernacle

2 of 2

verb

tabernacled; tabernacling ˈta-bər-ˌna-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to take up temporary residence

especially : to inhabit a physical body

Synonyms

Noun

• church
• kirk [chiefly Scottish]
• temple

Examples of tabernacle in a Sentence

Noun

worshippers gathering at the Baptist tabernacle on a bright Sunday morning

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In his hometown of Nashville, Kearney will play the Roman Theatre, a former tabernacle and home to the Grand Ol’ Opry. —Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 30 July 2024

Please, oh please, if anyone has that tabernacle or knows of its whereabouts, notify the authorities at once and turn it in at once. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2024

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

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

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