noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A platform from which speakers addressed an assembly.
2. 2
   area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing wordnet
3. 3
   Raised area of worship in a synagogue upon which rests the Holy Ark containing Scrolls of Torah.

Synonyms

All synonyms

chancelchancelsanctuary

Etymology

From Ancient Greek βῆμα (bêma, “a step”). Doublet of bima.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.