Word
churchyard
Phoneticschurch·yard, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtʃɝtʃˌjɑɹd/
UK/tʃˈɜːtʃjɑːd/
Definition
n. the area of land around a church where people are buried. It is usually a quiet, peaceful place with many old stones and trees.
n. the area of land surrounding a church, typically used as a burial ground. Often features historical monuments, gravestones, and a distinct architectural style.
Examples
“The old churchyard is very quiet in the morning.”
“We spent the afternoon walking through the churchyard, reading the names on the weathered tombstones.”
“The restoration of the churchyard involved careful landscaping to preserve the original medieval layout while ensuring the site remained accessible to the local community.”
Examples
simple
“The old churchyard is very quiet in the morning.”
contextual
“We spent the afternoon walking through the churchyard, reading the names on the weathered tombstones.”
complex
“The restoration of the churchyard involved careful landscaping to preserve the original medieval layout while ensuring the site remained accessible to the local community.”
Etymology
From Middle English churchyard, chirch-ȝerd, chircheȝerd (also kirk-ȝerd, kirkeyard > English kirkyard), equivalent to church + yard. Compare also Middle English kurk-garth, kyrkgarth, kirrkegærd, from Old Norse kirkjugarðr (“churchyard; graveyard”). Replaced Middle English chirchetoun from Old English ċirictūn (churchtown).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/churchyard