English Reference
noun

bishop

n.
US /ˈbɪʃəp/ UK /bˈɪʃəp/ bish·op UK spelling bishop's, bishop's, bishoped, bishoping

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Religion

    a high-ranking priest who is in charge of the churches in a specific large area.

    a senior member of the Christian clergy, typically in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders.

    Simple

    The bishop visited our local church to lead the special Sunday service.

    In context

    The bishop presided over the confirmation ceremony, delivering a sermon that addressed the challenges facing the modern diocese.

    prelatecleric
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    a chess piece that can only move diagonally on squares of the same colour.

    a chess piece that moves any number of unoccupied squares in a diagonal direction.

    Simple

    He moved his bishop across the board to put the king in danger.

    In context

    By positioning her bishop on the long diagonal, she effectively restricted the movement of her opponent's knight.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency ArchaicLiterary Cooking

    a warm drink made from red wine, sugar, and oranges with spices.

    a traditional punch or mulled drink consisting of port, sugar, and citrus fruits, often served hot.

    Simple

    In the old story, the characters sat by the fire drinking a hot bishop.

    In context

    The host prepared a steaming bowl of bishop, the scent of roasted oranges and cloves filling the drawing room as the guests arrived.

    mulled winepunch
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency British EnglishDialect Science

    a small, round, bright beetle with spots, often called a ladybug.

    a regional name for a ladybird or ladybug beetle of the family Coccinellidae.

    Simple

    The child found a tiny red bishop crawling on a leaf in the garden.

    In context

    Local folklore in East Anglia often refers to the common ladybird as a 'bishop-barnabee' or simply a 'bishop'.

    ladybirdladybug

Some of the worst-affected areas have been cordoned off and many residents who were evacuated, including the Bishop of Dudley, the Right Reverand Martin Gorick , have not been able to return home.

BBC News· 15 Aug 2026

A Catholic bishop and journalists covering the event were also targeted by the attackers.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated