'Cult' definitions:
Definition of 'cult'
(from WordNet)
noun
Followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
noun
An interest followed with exaggerated zeal; "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season" [syn: fad, craze, furor, furore, cult, rage]
noun
Followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader
noun
A religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false; "it was a satanic cult"
noun
A system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin" [syn: cult, cultus, religious cult]
Definition of 'Cult'
From: GCIDE
- Cult \Cult\ (k[u^]lt) n. [F. culte, L. cultus care, culture, fr. colere to cultivate. Cf. Cultus.]
- 1. Attentive care; homage; worship. [1913 Webster]
- Every one is convinced of the reality of a better self, and of the cult or homage which is due to it. --Shaftesbury. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A system of religious belief and worship. [1913 Webster]
- That which was the religion of Moses is the ceremonial or cult of the religion of Christ. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A system of intense religious veneration of a particular person, idea, or object, especially one considered spurious or irrational by traditional religious bodies; as, the Moonie cult. [PJC]
- 4. The group of individuals who adhere to a cult (senses 2 or 3). [PJC]
- 5. A strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing without religious associations, or the people holding such an interest; as, the cult of James Dean; the cult of personality in totalitarian societies. [PJC]
Synonyms of 'cult'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adoration,
- articles of religion,
- catechism,
- celebration,
- ceremonialism,
- church,
- co-worship,
- communion,
- connection,
- credenda,
- credo,
- creed,
- cultism,
- cultus,
- denomination,
- devotion,
- doctrinal statement,
- dulia,
- faith,
- formalism,
- formulated belief,
- gospel,
- homage,
- hyperdulia,
- ideology,
- idolatry,
- ism,
- latria,
- liturgics,
- liturgiology,
- liturgism,
- mystique,
- persuasion,
- political faith,
- political philosophy,
- prostration,
- religion,
- reverence,
- ritualism,
- rituality,
- ritualization,
- Sabbatarianism,
- sabbatism,
- sacramentalism,
- sacramentarianism,
- school,
- sect,
- solemn observance,
- solemnization,
- symbolics,
- symbolism,
- system of belief,
- transcendent wonder,
- veneration,
- Weltanschauung,
- world view,
- worship,
- worshiping