# tabernacle

/ˈtæbɝˌnækəɫ/ (US) · /tˈæbənəkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tabernacle
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. church container

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a small, decorated box in a church where the bread for the Eucharist is kept.

For teachers: a fixed or movable cupboard or box, often highly ornamented, used for the reserved sacrament of the Eucharist.

- The priest placed the remaining bread back into the golden tabernacle after the service.
- The ornate tabernacle stood at the centre of the altar, its intricate carvings reflecting the church's baroque architectural style.

### 2. biblical tent

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

the portable tent that the ancient Israelites used as a place of worship.

For teachers: the portable sanctuary in use by the Israelites during the Exodus, prior to the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

- In the Bible, the tabernacle was moved from place to place in the desert.
- Scholars have long debated the precise dimensions and materials used in the construction of the biblical tabernacle as described in Exodus.

### 3. place of worship

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a building used for religious worship, especially by certain Christian groups.

For teachers: a house of worship, particularly one used by Mormons or for large evangelical revival meetings.

- The choir performed a beautiful concert at the city's main tabernacle.
- The revivalist preacher addressed a crowd of thousands gathered within the temporary wooden tabernacle erected on the outskirts of town.

### 4. nautical mast hinge

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a hinge at the bottom of a boat's mast that lets you fold it down.

For teachers: a hinged device or socket at the deck level allowing a mast to be lowered easily for transport or passing under bridges.

- We lowered the mast using the tabernacle so the boat could fit under the low bridge.
- The yacht was equipped with a heavy-duty steel tabernacle, enabling the crew to strike the mast without the assistance of a shoreside crane.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of sailing vessels designed for inland waterways.

### 5. temporary shelter

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a temporary home, such as a tent or a simple hut.

For teachers: a temporary dwelling or shelter; often used figuratively in literature to describe the human body as a temporary home for the soul.

- The travelers built a simple tabernacle to protect themselves from the night rain.
- The poet described the physical form as a mere earthly tabernacle that would eventually be discarded by the spirit.

### 6. to dwell

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to stay or live in a place for a short time.

For teachers: to dwell or reside temporarily; to take up a brief residence.

- The spirit was said to tabernacle among the people during the festival.
- In the ancient text, the deity is described as choosing to tabernacle within the hearts of the faithful rather than in stone temples.

## Examples

- The sailor lowered the mast using the tabernacle.
- Because the river has several low stone bridges, the sailboat is equipped with a tabernacle to lower the mast quickly.
- The structural integrity of the tabernacle is paramount, as it must withstand the significant lateral forces exerted on the mast while remaining flexible enough to pivot when the locking pin is removed.

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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.