Bible
proper nounnounproper nouncommon in dialogue
- //ˈbaɪbəl//
Either of two major versions of the main religious text in the Judeo-Christian group of traditions. The main religious text in Christianity.
proper noun
- 1
Either of two major versions of the main religious text in the Judeo-Christian group of traditions. The main religious text in Christianity.
Meronyms: Old Testament, New Testament
In my religion class we learn about the Bible, as well as religious texts of other religions.
He spoke of the great demand for books. Had sold as many as fifty Bibles in one day. Has sold Bibles to nearly all the officials in the Nan-ch'ang prefecture and has several orders in hand for books of good binding.
Many non-Christians regard portions of the Bible as “inspiring,” but they do not believe the Bible was “inspired by God” […]
- 2
Either of two major versions of the main religious text in the Judeo-Christian group of traditions. The Jewish holy book that was largely incorporated into the Christian Bible.
Near-synonym: Old Testament (loosely synonymous)
She's Jewish, but she doesn't read the Bible because she's not religious.
- 3
The analogous holy book of another religion or belief system.
He conveys to his foreign students the importance of the Qur'an by explaining that it is the Bible of Islam.
The cult's ideological substance was the popular digest dubbed by foreigners the Little Red Book or the Bible of Maoism.
- 4
The principal important document of some area of skill or expertise.
This technical handbook is the Bible of our trade.
Etymology
From Middle English bible, from Medieval Latin biblia (“book”) (misinterpreted as a feminine from earlier Latin neuter plural biblia (“books”)), from Ancient Greek βιβλία (biblía, “books”), plural of βιβλίον (biblíon, “small book”), originally a diminutive of βίβλος (bíblos, “book”), from βύβλος (búblos, “papyrus”) (from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported this writing material). Old English used biblioþēce (from βιβλιοθήκη) and ġewritu (whence English writs) for "the Scriptures".
noun
- 1
A specific version, edition, translation, or copy of one of the above-mentioned texts.
He had just become able to read, with much effort, short sentences in his Bible, and was constantly engaged during his leisure hours in studying its pages.
proper noun
- 1
A surname originating as a matronymic.
Etymology
From a Middle English diminutive of the given name Isabel.
Forms
- plural
- Bibles
Bible · Either of two major versions of the main religious text in the Judeo-Christian group of traditions. The main religious text in Christianity.
biblical · Of or relating to the Bible.bickering · That bickers; argumentative.bicycle · A vehicle that has two primary wheels, one behind the other,…