bishop

Everyday

1. (church) A bishop is a senior leader in many Christian churches who looks after the priests and churches of a large area called a diocese. tree →
2. (chess) A bishop is a chess piece that moves any number of squares diagonally. tree →

In the lessons

In church life the bishop confirms young people, ordains priests, and wears a tall pointed hat called a mitre and carries a crook-shaped staff. Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and some Lutheran and Methodist churches have bishops. In chess each player starts with two bishops, one on light squares and one on dark. Phrases: the Bishop of a city, the bishop's palace, move your bishop.

Examples

• The bishop came to our church for the confirmation service. tree →
• A bishop wears a tall hat called a mitre. tree →
• The Bishop of London spoke on the radio. tree →
• I moved my bishop diagonally and took her knight. tree →
• A bishop always stays on the same colour of square. tree →
• The bishop blessed the new school building. tree →
• ‘She is my wife,’ answered the bishop. tree →

Note

Countable. Capital B in a title ("Bishop Anne", "the Bishop of Durham"). Related words: diocese (his area), cathedral (his main church), archbishop (a chief bishop). In chess, bishops move only diagonally.