| / English Dictionary |
CULT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
An interest followed with exaggerated zeal
Example:
it was all the rage that season
Synonyms:
craze; cult; fad; furor; furore; rage
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("cult" is a kind of...):
fashion (the latest and most admired style in clothes and cosmetics and behavior)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A system of religious beliefs and rituals
Example:
devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin
Synonyms:
cult; cultus; religious cult
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("cult" is a kind of...):
faith; religion; religious belief (a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cult"):
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)
hoodooism; vodoun; voodoo; voodooism (a religious cult practiced chiefly in Caribbean countries (especially Haiti); involves witchcraft and animistic deities)
Derivation:
cultist (a member of a religious cult)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false
Example:
it was a satanic cult
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("cult" is a kind of...):
faith; religion; religious belief (a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny)
Derivation:
cultist (a member of an unorthodox cult who generally lives outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Hypernyms ("cult" is a kind of...):
faith; organized religion; religion (an institution to express belief in a divine power)
Meronyms (members of "cult"):
cultist (a member of an unorthodox cult who generally lives outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cult"):
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))
Derivation:
cultist (a member of an unorthodox cult who generally lives outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Followers of an exclusive system of beliefs and practices
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Hypernyms ("cult" is a kind of...):
faith; organized religion; religion (an institution to express belief in a divine power)
Meronyms (members of "cult"):
cultist (a member of a religious cult)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cult"):
macumba ((Brazil) followers of a religious cult of African origin)
obeah; obi ((West Indies) followers of a religious system involving witchcraft and sorcery)
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)
Derivation:
cultist (a member of a religious cult)
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