relax /rilaeks/ [u I] to make yourself feel calmer, more comfortable, and less worried, by resting or doing something enjoyable: Just wait! In two weeks time I'll be relaxing on a beach in Greece. I Trained staff will look after your children, so that you can relax and enjoy yourself. Relax! It'll be okay.
a religion or a religious group
religion /гМк&т/ [n C] a set of beliefs
that a group of people has about a god, and the ceremonies, customs, and rules that go with these beliefs: a book about the religion of ancient Egypt I "What religion ore you?" I'm a Christian." I one of the great world religions
/aith feiti [n С] a religion, especially one of the large important world religions: People of all faiths are welcome to come to our church.
D
the Jewish / Christian / Islamic / Hindu /aith Most of the island's population belong to the Islamic faith.
sect Isekt/ [п C] a religious group that is part of a larger religious group, and has its own beliefs and ceremonies: Islam has two main sects: the Sunnis and the Shias, 1 The Quakers are a Christian religious sect who strongly oppose vio
lence and war.
church /tJ3irtJ [n C| a religious group that
is part of the Christian religion: Which church do you belong to? I a meeting of church leaders I The Pope is the head oj the Catholic Church.
cult /клк.' [n C] a small religious group which is not part of one of the main world religions, especially a group that has very unusual ideas which they believe very strongly: Several members of the cult were found dead in a forest in France.
В religions in general
religion. nlid yn/ (n U] religions and religious beliefs and activities in general, for example as a subject that people talk about or study: They spent hours discussing politics and religion. I Discrimination on the grounds of religion is strictly forbidden by law.
When you are talking about religions in general, don't say 'the religion'. |ust say religion
EJ things that you believe
because of your religion
belie/s /bi'liifs/ [n plural) all the ideas that
someone believes because of their religion: They were persecuted because of their religious beliefs. I people with very traditional Christian beliefs
faith /feie/ [n U) a strong belief in a particular god or religion: When her husband died, she found great comfort in her faith.
+ in Nothing could shake his faith in God.
В connected with religion
religious /n'lidsas/ [adj only before noun) connected with religion: Kusbu doesn't eat meat for religious reasons. I Re/igious education is compulsory in British schools. I a religious ceremony
holy /'haoli/ |adj usually before noun) a holy place, person, or object is one that people think is special because it is connected with God and religion: Jerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. I holy water I Crim/na/s
could not be buried in holy ground. holy - holier - holiest
spiritual /spiritJusl1 [adj] your spiritual feelings and ideas are your most private feelings about religion, the meaning of life, and other things that are not connected with the ordinary experiences of daily life: He seems to have no interest in spiritual matters I The materialism of the 1980s failed to satisfy people's spiritual needs.
ш someone who believes in a religion
relig ious /ri'lid^as; [adj] someone who is religious believes strongly in a particular religion: He was raised as a Muslim but
he isn't very religious. deeply religious (-very religious) Her father was a deeply religious man. who spent hours praying each day.
practising British practicing american / ргжкфи] [adj only before nounl a practising Catholic, Muslim etc does not just say they are a Catholic, Muslim etc, but regularly goes to religious ceremonies and
lives according to the rules of their religion
devout di'va<jt; [adj] a devout Catholic. Muslim etc is someone who has strong and sincere religious beliefs, and who carefully obeys all the rules of their religion: Devout Muslims pray to Allah five times a day.
fundamentalist /.fAnda'menul-^st/ In CI
someone who has a strong belief that the laws of their religion must be followed very strictly: Fundamentalists believed that women should not be educated. I Christian fundamentalists who believe that every word in the Bible is true
kJ things that people do as part of their religion
pray prei |l> 1] to speak to God, silently or
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RELIGION
aloud, especially in order to ask for help or to thank him for something: He got down on his knees and began to pray.
RELIGION
+ to Abdullah preyed to God to help him.
pray for sb (=ask God to help someone) The minister asked us to pray for the dead girl's family.
pray for stk (=ask God to make something happen) I p.t us pray for peace.
prayer ;ргеэг/ [n C] words that you say
when you are praying: a prayer for the dead
say a prayer (=say a fixed set of words} An old lady was kneeling in front of the
statue, saying a prayer, say your prayers (=say prayers as a duty you regularly have to do) Make sure the children say their prayers before they go to bed.
worship ''wx'Jip/ [и 1/T] formal to pray.
sing, or take part in a religious ceremony, in order to show your love of God: Muslims come to worship and study at the mosque. ! The Ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods.
worshipping - worshipped -
have worshipped alno worshipping -
worshipped-have worshipped \me r:!< \n
worship [n U] when you worship: The building has been used for worship for centuries.
hymn /him/ [n CI a song praising God sung in a church or at a religious ceremony: a well-known Christian hymn sing hymns They gather on Sundays to pray and sing hymns.
fast fu;stj|farst [i/ J] to eat no food for a period of time, for religious reasons: Muslims fast during Ramadan.