1. n.1 a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling-place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious reverence.
2 hist. any of three successive religious buildings of the Jews in Jerusalem.
3 US a synagogue.
4 a place of Christian public worship, esp. a Protestant church in France.
5 a place in which God is regarded as residing, esp. a Christian's person or body.
Phrases and idioms:
temple block a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow block of wood which is struck with a stick.
Etymology: OE temp(e)l, reinforced in ME by OF temple, f. L templum open or consecrated space 2. n. the flat part of either side of the head between the forehead and the ear.
Etymology: ME f. OF ult. f. L tempora pl. of tempus 3. n. a device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched.
Etymology: ME f. OF, orig. the same word as TEMPLE(2)