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temple

temple (religious building)

noun TAHN-pl Less Common
Arts & Culture Religion

Origin: From Latin 'templum'.

Also means

temple (side of head)

Usage Note

temple refers to a non-Catholic place of worship (a Protestant church is called a temple in France, not an église) as well as ancient pagan temples. The anatomical meaning, the flat part of the skull at the side of the head, is less common but well established. Plural is regular: des temples.

Examples

"Le temple grec date du Ve siècle."

Natural Translation

The Greek temple dates from the 5th century.

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