shrine
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a holy place dedicated to a god, a saint, or a famous person who has died.
n.a sacred site or structure dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, saint, or martyr, where they are venerated.
Simple“Many people travel to the mountain to visit the ancient shrine of the goddess.”
In context“Pilgrims from across the continent gathered at the shrine to offer prayers and leave small tokens of their devotion.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a place that people visit or respect because it is connected to someone or something they admire.
n.a site or object hallowed by its historical associations or dedicated to the memory of a particular person or event.
Simple“The singer's childhood home has become a shrine for his millions of fans.”
In context“The small museum served as a shrine to the local industry, preserving tools and documents that dated back to the town's founding.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a special box or case used to hold holy objects, like the bones of a saint.
n.a receptacle, such as a reliquary or casket, designed to house sacred relics.
Simple“The golden shrine containing the saint's remains was kept behind a heavy iron gate.”
In context“Art historians examined the ornate carvings on the medieval shrine, noting the intricate details of the silver filigree.”
Synonymsreliquarycasket - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to put something in a special place to show it is very important or holy.
v.to place or protect something as if in a shrine; more commonly encountered as the derivative 'enshrine'.
Simple“She decided to shrine the old photograph in a beautiful silver frame.”
In context“The poet sought to shrine his lost love within the verses of his final collection, ensuring her memory would endure.”
UsageThe simple verb form is rare in modern prose; 'enshrine' is the standard transitive choice.
Antonyms
“Yet small-scale water bodies managed by people—such as those found in the gardens of Japan's temples, shrines and schools—remain within urban areas, providing oases for our moist neighbors.”