# chapel

/ˈtʃæpəɫ/ (US) · /tʃˈæpəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chapel
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. small place of worship

noun · CEFR B1

a small building or room used for Christian worship, often part of a larger building like a school or hospital.

For teachers: a place of worship, typically smaller than a church, or a dedicated room for prayer within a larger civil or religious institution.

- The hospital has a small chapel on the first floor where people can go to pray.
- The university's medieval chapel remains the focal point of the campus, hosting both daily services and formal academic ceremonies.

### 2. non-Anglican church

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

in the UK, a place of worship for Christians who do not belong to the Church of England.

For teachers: a place of worship for Nonconformist or Dissenter denominations in the United Kingdom, such as Methodists or Baptists.

- His family attended the local Methodist chapel every Sunday morning.
- The rise of industrial towns in the North saw a corresponding increase in the construction of austere, functional chapels for dissenting congregations.

### 3. printing/journalism branch

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

a local branch or group of a trade union for people who work in printing or journalism.

For teachers: a local branch of a trade union within the printing or newspaper industries.

- The father of the chapel called a meeting to discuss the new printing contracts.
- Negotiations between the management and the editorial chapel reached a stalemate over the proposed changes to weekend shifts.

### 4. nautical maneuver

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

to turn a ship around to get it back on its original path after the wind hits the sails from the wrong side.

For teachers: to steer a sailing vessel that has been taken aback so that it recovers its original tack without bracing the yards.

- The captain had to chapel the ship when the light breeze suddenly shifted.
- In the light and baffling winds, the helmsman was forced to chapel the vessel to regain his course without losing momentum.

Usage: The verb is transitive and specifically refers to handling a ship in light winds.

## Examples

- The hospital has a small chapel for patients and their families.
- Students gather in the school chapel every Monday morning for a brief period of quiet reflection.
- The historic estate features a private chapel built in the fourteenth century, which remains the only part of the original structure that has never been renovated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.