<p><strong>noun</strong></p><ul><li>an assembly of persons brought together for common religious worship</li><li>the act of congregating or the state of being congregated</li><li>a gathered or assembled body; assemblage</li><li>an organization formed for the purpose of providing for worship of God, for religious education, and for other church activities; a local church society</li><li>(in the Bible) the people of Israel</li><li>New Testament</li><li>the Christian church in general</li><li>Roman Catholic Church</li><li>a committee of cardinals or other ecclesiastics</li><li>a community of men or women, either with or without vows, observing a common rule</li><li>(at English universities) the general assembly of the doctors, fellows, etc.</li><li>(in colonial North America) a parish, town, plantation, or other settlement</li></ul>