(in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Greek Orthodox Churches) a cleric having spiritual and administrative powers over a diocese or province of the Church
See also suffraganRelated adjective(s): episcopala chesspiece, capable of moving diagonally over any number of unoccupied squares of the same colour mulled wine, usually port, spiced with oranges, cloves, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bish•op /ˈbɪʃəp/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Religiona person who supervises a diocese and is a member of the highest order of the ministry.
- Chessone of two chess pieces that may be moved any distance diagonally.
bish•op
(bish′əp),USA pronunciation n., v., -oped, -op•ing.
n.
v.t.
bish′op•less, adj.
bish′op•like′, adj.
Bish•op (bish′əp),USA pronunciation n.
n.
- a person who supervises a number of local churches or a diocese, being in the Greek, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other churches a member of the highest order of the ministry.
- a spiritual supervisor, overseer, or the like.
- Chessone of two pieces of the same color that may be moved any unobstructed distance diagonally, one on white squares and the other on black.
- Winea hot drink made of port wine, oranges, cloves, etc.
- BirdsAlso called bish′op bird′. any of several colorful African weaverbirds of the genus Euplectes, often kept as pets.
v.t.
- to appoint to the office of bishop.
- Greek epískopos overseer, equivalent. to epi- epi- + skopós watcher; see scope
- Vulgar Latin *ebiscopus, for Late Latin episcopus
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English bisc(e)op
bish′op•like′, adj.
Bish•op (bish′əp),USA pronunciation n.
- Biographical Elizabeth, 1911–79, U.S. poet.
- Biographical Hazel (Gladys), born 1906, U.S. chemist and businesswoman.
- Biographical John Peale, 1892–1944, U.S. poet and essayist.
- Biographical Morris (Gilbert), 1893–1973, U.S. humorist, poet, and biographer.
- Biographical William Avery ("Billy''), 1894–1956, Canadian aviator: helped to establish Canadian air force.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Billy, full name William Avery Bishop. 1894–1956, Canadian fighter pilot during World War I; played an important role in the training of Commonwealth pilots during World War II Elizabeth. 1911–79, US poet, who lived in Brazil. Her poetry reflects her travelling experience, esp in the tropics
'chief bishop' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):