Pronunciations (4)
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/ˈiːstə/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˈistəɹ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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ˈiːstə
Pronunciation notes
- GB
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ˈistɚ
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
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.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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We spent each of the past five Easters together as a family.
More examples (1)
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.”
Eastertide (“the period from Easter to Whitsun”).
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Meronyms: Easter Day, Easter Sunday
Usually preceded by an inflection of make: the act of receiving the Eucharist during Easter.
Usage- Countable
- Dated
- Figurative
- specifically
- Uncountable
A festival held in honour of the goddess Eostre or Ostara, celebrated at the vernal equinox or within the month of April; Eostre, Ostara.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The Jewish Passover.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
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.
Proper noun
A surname.
Verb
To celebrate Easter.
Usage- Intransitive
To spend the Easter season in some place.
Usage- Intransitive
Noun
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
- Broader terms