pope

Pluralpopes

Formspopes, poping, poped

1. 1
   nouncountable

   The title of the bishop of Rome, who leads the Roman Catholic Church and rules Vatican City.

   The pope will visit Brazil next spring.

   When the old pope died, church leaders from around the world met in Rome to choose a new one.

   Similarpontiff

   Note
2. 2
   nounironiccountable

   A person or group whose word is treated as always right, like the pope's.

   My uncle acts like the pope of barbecue, and nobody dares to argue with him.

   The popes of the fashion world decide what everyone will wear next year.

   Similarguru, oracle

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   The highest leader of a religion, like the pope is for Catholics.

   The small religion has its own pope, who lives in the mountains and leads the prayers.

   The head of the temple acts as the pope of his faith, and all its priests obey him.

   Similarpontiff

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   The title of the bishop of Alexandria who leads the Coptic Church.

   Coptic Christians gathered to hear the pope speak at the Easter service.

   Many Coptic families keep a photo of their pope at home.

   Similarpatriarch

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   The title of the Eastern Orthodox bishop of Alexandria, who leads his own independent church.

   Eastern Orthodox believers in Alexandria lined the street to greet their pope.

   The Eastern Orthodox pope of Alexandria sent a letter to be read in every church.

   Similarpatriarch

   Note
6. 6
   verbintransitive

   To behave like a pope, or to do the work of a pope.

   He liked to pope it at family dinners, telling everyone what was right and wrong.

   The cardinal never got the chance to pope, though many people thought he would be chosen.

   Note
7. 7
   verbcolloquialintransitive

   To leave your old church or beliefs and join the Roman Catholic Church.

   Tom grew up a Baptist, but after college he decided to pope and become a Catholic.

   After years of going to Mass with her husband, she finally poped.

   Similarconvert

   Note
8. 8
   noun

   Alternative form of pop. Here it means a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church.

   The pope of the Russian village blessed the fields every spring.

   In the small Russian town, people went to the pope for advice about family problems.

   Note
9. 9
   nounUKcountable

   A figure of the pope that people in Britain burned on Guy Fawkes Day, and sometimes at other times.

   The children helped stuff the pope with straw before the bonfire.

   On Guy Fawkes night the crowd cheered as the paper pope caught fire.

   Note
10. 10
    noununcountable

    A hot wine drink with spices, similar to the drink called bishop but thought to be better.

    Grandpa heated a pot of pope with honey and orange for the holiday party.

    She poured each guest a warm cup of pope that smelled of ginger.

    Note

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