noun
tabernacle
TA-buh-nakl
noun
1
A temporary or portable place of worship, especially the sacred tent used by the Israelites before the Temple was built.
"The Tabernacle was carried with the Israelites during their years in the wilderness."
2
A small ornamental cabinet in a church used to house the consecrated bread of the Eucharist.
"The priest opened the tabernacle to retrieve the host."
3
A place of worship, especially a large hall used for religious meetings or revivals.
"The choir performed at the Mormon Tabernacle."
How to Use Tabernacle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sacred tent, shrine cabinet, or house of worship, depending on context — most familiar from the biblical portable shrine or the small cabinet holding the Eucharist.
Word Forms
tabernacled past tense, tabernacles plural, tabernacles singular
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Etymology
From Latin tabernaculum, "tent, booth," a diminutive of taberna, "hut, shed."