cult
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Related to cult: cultism
cult
(kŭlt)n.
1.
a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
b. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5.
a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
b. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
[Latin cultus, worship, from past participle of colere, to cultivate; see kwel- in Indo-European roots.]
cul′tic, cult′ish adj.
cult′ism n.
cult′ist n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
cult
(kʌlt)n
1. (Theology) a specific system of religious worship, esp with reference to its rites and deity
2. (Theology) a sect devoted to such a system
3. (Sociology) a quasi-religious organization using devious psychological techniques to gain and control adherents
4. (Sociology) sociol a group having an exclusive ideology and ritual practices centred on sacred symbols, esp one characterized by lack of organizational structure
5. intense interest in and devotion to a person, idea, or activity: the cult of yoga.
6. the person, idea, etc, arousing such devotion
7.
a. something regarded as fashionable or significant by a particular group
b. (as modifier): a cult show.
8. (modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of a cult or cults: a cult figure.
[C17: from Latin cultus cultivation, refinement, from colere to till]
ˈcultism n
ˈcultist n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
cult
(kʌlt)n.
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. a group that devotes itself to or venerates a person, ideal, fad, etc.
3.
adj. a. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist.
b. the members of such a religion or sect.
4. of or pertaining to a cult.
5. of, for, or attracting a group of devotees: a cult movie.
[1610–20; < Latin cultus habitation, tilling, refinement, worship =cul-, variant s. of colere to inhabit, till, worship + -tus suffix of v. action]
cul′tic, adj.
cult′ish, adj.
cult′ism, n.
cult′ist, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
cult
A religious organization or movement which deviates from the established religious tradition in the community.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. | cult - followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices organized religion, religion, faith - an institution to express belief in a divine power; "he was raised in the Baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him" macumba - (Brazil) followers of a religious cult of African origin Rastafarian - (Ethiopia) adherents of an African religion that regards Ras Tafari as divine voodoo - (Haiti) followers of a religion that involves witchcraft and animistic deities Rastafari, Rastas - (Jamaica) a Black youth subculture and religious movement that arose in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1950s; males grow hair in long dreadlocks and wear woolen caps; use marijuana and listen to reggae music Wicca - a community of followers of the Wicca religion cultist - a member of a religious cult |
| 2. |  cult - an interest followed with exaggerated zeal; "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season"fashion - the latest and most admired style in clothes and cosmetics and behavior | |
| 3. | cult - followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader organized religion, religion, faith - an institution to express belief in a divine power; "he was raised in the Baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him" cargo cult - (Melanesia) the followers of one of several millenarian cults that believe salvation will come in the form of wealth (`cargo') brought by westerners; some ascribe divine attributes to westerners on first contact (especially to missionaries) cultist - a member of an unorthodox cult who generally lives outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader | |
| 4. | cult - a religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false; "it was a satanic cult" faith, religion, religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality" | |
| 5. | cult - a system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin" faith, religion, religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality" cargo cult - a religious cult that anticipates a time of joy, serenity, and justice when salvation comes macumba - a Brazilian religious cult of African origin; combines voodoo elements with singing and chanting and dancing obeah, obi - a religious belief of African origin involving witchcraft and sorcery; practiced in parts of the West Indies and tropical Americas Rastafarianism - a religious cult based on a belief that Ras Tafari (Haile Selassie) is the Messiah and that Africa (especially Ethiopia) is the Promised Land |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
cult
noun
1. sect, following, body, faction, party, school, church, faith, religion, denomination, clique The teenager may have been abducted by a religious cult.
3. obsession, worship, admiration, devotion, reverence, veneration, idolization The cult of personality surrounding pop stars leaves me cold.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
شيعةنِظام ديني، عَقيدَه
kult
kult
kulttikultti-lahkolahkolais-uskonlahko
kultusz
dÿrkun; trúarregla; trúaratriîi
kultas
kults
kult
kult
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
cult
[ˈkʌlt] n
(= religious sect) → secte f
(= craze) → culte m
(= worship) the cult of sth [+ youth, secrecy, violence] → le culte de qch
personality cult, cult of personality → culte m de la personnalité
personality cult, cult of personality → culte m de la personnalité
modif
(relating to a craze) cult film, cult movie → film-culte m, film m culte
cult hero → idole f
cult figure → personnage m culte
cult following
a book with a cult following → un livre-culte, un livre culte
a band with a cult following → un groupe-culte, un groupe culte
cult hero → idole f
cult figure → personnage m culte
cult following
a book with a cult following → un livre-culte, un livre culte
a band with a cult following → un groupe-culte, un groupe culte
(relating to a religious cult) [member, leader] → d'une secte
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
cult
(kalt) noun a particular system of (religious) belief or worship. a strange new religious cult; Physical fitness has become a cult with him.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.