Easter

Definitions

1. A Christian feast commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on the first Sunday (and Monday) following the full moon that occurs on or next after the vernal equinox, ranging in most of Western Christianity (such as Protestantism and Roman Catholicism) from March 22 to April 25, and in Eastern Christianity (such as the Coptic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church) from April 4 to May 8.
   countable, uncountable
2. A strong easterly wind (a wind blowing from the east).
3. A surname.
4. Eastertide (“the period from Easter to Whitsun”).
   countable, uncountable
5. Usually preceded by an inflection of make: the act of receiving the Eucharist during Easter.
   countable, dated, figuratively, specifically, uncountable
6. Ellipsis of Easter term.
   Ireland, UK, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
7. A festival held in honour of the goddess Eostre or Ostara, celebrated at the vernal equinox or within the month of April; Eostre, Ostara.
   countable, uncountable
8. The Jewish Passover.
   countable, obsolete, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“We spent each of the past five Easters together as a family.”

“During the Easter season, the Russians are planning “a great battle in Donbas,” the Russian-occupied region in Ukraine’s far east. “This is not Christian behavior at all, as I understand⟳ it. On Easter they will kill⟳, and they will be killed.””

“Meronyms: Easter Day, Easter Sunday”

“After two dayes folowed eſter⸝ and the dayes of ſwete breed⟳. And the hye preſtꝭ [prestis] and ſcrybꝭ [scrybis] ſought meanes⸝ howe they myght take⟳ hym [Jesus] by crafte and putt hym to deeth.”

“A northeaster in one place⟳ may be an easter, a norther, or a souther in some other locality.”

CEFR level