Easter

UK: /ˈiːstə^r/ US: /ˈistɚ/ ,(ē′stər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

Eas•ter /ˈistɚ/   n. [proper noun]

1. Religion a yearly Christian festival to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21.
2. Religion the day on which this festival is celebrated.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Eas•ter  (ē′stər), n. 

1. Religion an annual Christian festival in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, as calculated according to tables based in Western churches on the Gregorian calendar and in Orthodox churches on the Julian calendar.
2. Religion Also called Easter Sunday. the day on which this festival is celebrated.
3. Religion the Easter season;
   the week following Easter.

• bef. 900; Middle English ester, Old English ēastre; cognate with German Ostern; origin, originally name of a goddess and her festival; akin to east

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Easter / ˈiːstə/ noun

1. the most important festival of the Christian Church, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ: falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
2. Also called: Easter Sunday, Easter Day the day on which this festival is celebrated
3. the period between Good Friday and Easter Monday

Related adjective(s): paschal

Etymology: Old English ēastre, after a Germanic goddess Eostre; related to Old High German ōstarūn Easter, Old Norse austr to the east, Old Slavonic ustru like summer