mosque

noun

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\ ˈmäsk

Definition of mosque

: a building used for public worship by Muslims

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about mosque

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Did You Know?

Mosques were known to the English-speaking world long before we called them mosques. In the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, we used many different variations of the word—moseak, muskey, moschy, mos’keh, among others—until we finally hit on mosquee, emulating Middle French. The Middle French word had come by way of Italian and Old Spanish from the Arabic word for "temple," which is masjid. In the early 1700s, we settled on the present spelling, and mosque thus joined other English words related to Muslim worship: mihrab, for the special niche in a mosque that points towards Mecca; minaret, for the tall slender tower of a mosque; and muezzin, for the crier who, standing in the minaret, calls the hour of daily prayers.

Examples of mosque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Beyond, the contours of a park stretching to a giant mosque are taking shape. — Aidan Lewis And Mohamed Abdellah, The Christian Science Monitor, "Egypt's new high-tech capital: a path to better government?," 17 Mar. 2021 So Hazime started organizing rides, and making arrangements to get them to the mosque. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Vaccine-mobile brings COVID-19 shots to Dearborn mosque, helping to convince the hesitant," 9 Mar. 2021 For her newest video project, Palestinian officials permitted Ms. Abdulhadi to film a performance at Nabi Musa, a remote cultural complex attached to a mosque in a desert area east of Jerusalem that some believe was built where Moses was buried. — New York Times, "She Was a Star of New Palestinian Music. Then She Played Beside the Mosque.," 5 Mar. 2021 After the attacks, restaurants gave the Muslim community free food, taxi drivers provided free rides and the public sent messages, cards and flowers to the mosque. — Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, "After the Christchurch shootings, New Zealand promised change. But Muslims there still don't feel safe," 23 Aug. 2020 For local commanders, the mosque makes an ideal jail. — New York Times, "‘I Wake Up and Scream’: Secret Taliban Prisons Terrorize Thousands," 27 Feb. 2021 Islamic Center of Frisco: The mosque can hold up to 400 people and asks that visitors remove shoes before stepping on the carpet. — Dallas News, "Where to find warming centers in Frisco with power outages continuing and more snow in the weather forecast," 16 Feb. 2021 Among those who died were the mosque’s imam and a 7-year-old boy, officials said. — Washington Post, "World Digest: Sept. 5, 2020," 5 Sep. 2020 The mosque is the largest in Phoenix, with President Usama Shami saying many visitors have flocked there because their home mosques remain closed. — Brieanna J. Frank, The Arizona Republic, "Phoenix area religious communities return to worship as COVID-19 data stabilizes in Arizona," 9 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mosque.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.