# pastor

Pronunciation: US say "PAS-tur" /ˈpæstɚ/; UK say "PAH-stuh" /ˈpɑːstə/

## Noun

1. A minister or priest who leads a Christian congregation in worship and spiritual care.
   - Simple: A church leader who guides worship and cares for a group of believers.
   - _The pastor delivered a sermon on forgiveness Sunday morning._
   - _Several pastors from neighboring churches attended the conference._
2. The chief priest who serves and leads a parish, holding responsibility for its members and ministries. *(US)*
   - Simple: The head priest in charge of a local Catholic church and its members.
   - _The pastor assigned to the parish oversees its finances and ministries._
   - _Each parish in the diocese has a pastor appointed by the bishop._
4. A starling with rosy-pink plumage and a glossy black head, also called the rosy starling.
   - Simple: A pink-and-black songbird that travels in large flocks across parts of Europe and Asia.
   - _A flock of pastors descended on the orchard to feed on insects._
   - _The pastor often follows swarms of locusts across open plains._

## Verb

3. To lead a congregation as its minister, providing worship, teaching, and spiritual care.
   - Simple: To lead and care for a church group as its minister.
   - _After seminary, he chose to pastor a rural congregation._
   - _She pastors a growing church on the city's east side._

## Noun

5. A person who tends a flock of grazing animals; the same role as a shepherd. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A person who looks after a flock of sheep or other grazing animals.
   - _The pastor led his flock to fresh pasture beyond the river._
   - _Weary from the long drive, the pastor penned the sheep for the night._

## Origin

From Middle English "pastour," from Old French "pastor" (Modern French "pasteur"), from Latin "pāstor."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/pastor (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).