A Quick and Simple Dictionary

Tabernacle

1. Noun.  a case on the altar of a church that contains the consecrated host and wine for the Eucharist.
2. Noun.  the portable place of worship in which the Jews carried the Ark of the Covenant described in the book of Exodus.
3. Noun.  any temporary dwelling, a hut, tent, booth.
4. Noun.  ''(Old Testament)'' The portable tent used before the construction of the temple, where the shekinah (presence of God) was believed to dwell.
5. Noun.  transferred to the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem as continuing the functions of the earlier tabernacle.
6. Noun.  Any portable shrine used in heathen or idolatrous worship.
7. Noun.  A sukkah, the booth or 'tabernacle' used during the Jewish Feast of Sukkot.
8. Noun.  A small ornamented cupboard or box used for the reserved sacrament of the Eucharist, normally located in an especially prominent place in a Roman Catholic church.
9. Noun.  (US) A temporary place of worship, especially a tent, for a tent meeting, as with a venue for revival meetings.
10. Noun.  (figuratively) of any abode or dwelling place, especially of the human body as the temporary dwelling place of the soul, or life.
11. Noun.  (nautical) A hinged device allowing for the easy folding of a mast 90 degrees from perpendicular, as for transporting the boat on a trailer, or passing under a bridge.