# temple

/ˈtɛmpəɫ/ (US) · /tˈɛmpəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. religious building

noun · CEFR B1

a building where people go to pray or worship a god, especially in religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, or ancient Greek religion.

For teachers: an edifice dedicated to the service or worship of a deity or deities.

- The tourists removed their shoes before entering the ancient golden temple.
- The archaeological team discovered a series of inscriptions detailing the rituals performed within the temple during the third century.

### 2. part of the head

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the flat area on each side of your face, between your eye and your ear.

For teachers: the flattened region on either side of the forehead, situated behind the eye and above the cheekbone.

- He rubbed his temples with his fingers to try and stop the headache.
- The patient reported a sharp, localized pain in the left temple that intensified when chewing.

### 3. part of glasses

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the two side pieces of a pair of glasses that go over your ears.

For teachers: the sidepieces of a pair of spectacles that extend from the frame to the ears.

- The optician adjusted the temple of my glasses because they were too tight.
- Modern eyewear designers often use flexible titanium for the temples to ensure both durability and wearer comfort.

### 4. legal district in London

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Formal

a famous area in London where many lawyers have their offices.

For teachers: a district in central London, specifically referring to the Inner and Middle Temple Inns of Court.

- The young lawyer was proud to have secured a position at a firm in the Temple.
- The historic buildings of the Temple have housed the English legal profession for centuries, dating back to the Knights Templar.

## Examples

- The monks pray in the temple every morning.
- Tourists are asked to dress respectfully and remove their shoes before entering the ancient temple.
- The archaeological site revealed a massive stone temple dedicated to the sun god, featuring intricate carvings that have survived centuries of erosion.

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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.