ceremony
formal acts, often fixed and traditional, performed on important social or religious occasions
a wedding ceremony
Oxford Essential Dictionary
ceremony
noun (plural ceremonies)
a formal public or religious event:
the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games
a wedding ceremony
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
ceremony
cer‧e‧mo‧ny /ˈserəməni, ˈserɪməni $ -moʊni/ BrE AmE noun (plural ceremonies)
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cerymonie, from Latin caerimonia]
1. [countable] an important social or religious event, when a traditional set of actions is performed in a formal way ⇨ ceremonial:
a wedding ceremony
the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games
2. [uncountable] the special actions and formal words traditionally used on particular occasions:
The queen was crowned with due ceremony.
3. without ceremony in a very informal way, without politeness:
He wished me good luck in the future and left without further ceremony.
⇨ not stand on ceremony at ↑stand1(42)
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ hold a ceremony A ceremony was held in Berlin to mark the occasion.
▪ attend a ceremony I attended the ceremony at the cathedral.
▪ be present at a ceremony The French ambassador was present at the ceremony.
▪ perform/conduct a ceremony The Bishop of Louisiana performed the ceremony.
▪ a ceremony takes place The ceremony took place on 13th June at 2:30.
▪ a ceremony marks something a ceremony marking the beginning of adulthood
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ceremony
▪ a religious ceremony Did you have a religious ceremony when you got married?
▪ a wedding/marriage ceremony It was a beautiful wedding ceremony.
▪ a civil ceremony (=a wedding ceremony that is not a religious one) They married in a registrar's office, in a civil ceremony.
▪ a special ceremony The winners will receive their awards at a special ceremony in London.
▪ a short/brief ceremony He became acting president in a brief ceremony yesterday.
▪ a simple ceremony The gymnasium was opened in a simple ceremony on 26th May.
▪ a grand/elaborate ceremony The inhabitants of the town organized a grand ceremony to mark the occasion.
▪ a solemn ceremony (=a very serious one) There was a solemn ceremony in an ancient Roman church.
▪ a traditional ceremony The tribe still practise many of their traditional ceremonies.
▪ an opening/closing ceremony (=at the beginning or end of a special event) I stayed for the closing ceremony.
▪ an unveiling ceremony (=to show the public something new, for example a work of art) He attended the statue's unveiling ceremony.
▪ an awards ceremony (=to give people prizes for good achievements) the annual television awards ceremony
▪ a prize-giving ceremony (=to give people prizes for good achievements at school or college) A prize-giving ceremony will take place tomorrow night at the university.
▪ a graduation ceremony (=when you get your university degree) His proud parents attended his graduation ceremony.
▪ an inauguration ceremony (=when someone becomes President, Chancellor etc) It was the nation's 53rd inauguration ceremony.
▪ a swearing-in ceremony (=in which someone starting a public job promises to do it well) the presidential swearing-in ceremony
▪ a coronation ceremony (=in which someone becomes the new king or queen) Queen Elizabeth's coronation ceremony took place in 1953.
▪ a funeral ceremony Funeral ceremonies have been held since ancient times.
▪ an initiation ceremony (=in which someone officially becomes an adult, a member of a group etc) tribal initiation ceremonies
▪ a naming ceremony (=to name a baby, without a religious service) Many people opt for a naming ceremony rather than a christening.
▪ the tea ceremony (=a traditional ceremony in Japan for preparing and serving tea) It is Japan's leading school for teaching the tea ceremony.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
ceremony
cere·mony [ceremony ceremonies] [ˈserəməni] [ˈserəmoʊni] noun (pl. cere·monies)
1. countable a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or traditional actions
• an awards/opening ceremony
• a wedding/marriage ceremony
2. uncountable formal behaviour; traditional actions and words used on particular formal occasions
• The royal guests were welcomed with pomp and ceremony.
see also master of ceremonies
Idioms: stand on ceremony ▪ without ceremony
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French ceremonie or Latin caerimonia ‘religious worship’, (plural) ‘ritual observances’.
Thesaurus:
ceremony noun C
• They were married in a simple ceremony.
ritual • • rite • • service • • sacrament • • liturgy •
at a ceremony/ritual/rite/service
a religious ceremony/ritual/rite/service
a/an ancient/primitive/traditional/pagan ceremony/ritual/rite
perform a ceremony/ritual/rite
Collocations:
Marriage and divorce
Romance
fall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly) in love (with sb)
be/believe in/fall in love at first sight
be/find true love/the love of your life
suffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited love
have/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for sb/sth
meet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
have/go on a (blind) date
be going out with/ (especially NAmE) dating a guy/girl/boy/man/woman
move in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
Weddings
get/be engaged/married/divorced
arrange/plan a wedding
have a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriage
have/enter into an arranged marriage
call off/cancel/postpone your wedding
invite sb to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding reception
conduct/perform a wedding ceremony
exchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vows
congratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couple
be/go on honeymoon (with your wife/husband)
celebrate your first (wedding) anniversary
Separation and divorce
be unfaithful to/ (informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
have an affair (with sb)
break off/end an engagement/a relationship
break up with/split up with/ (informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriend
separate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wife
annul/dissolve a marriage
apply for/ask for/go through/get a divorce
get/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the children
pay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband)
Example Bank:
• I won't stand on ceremony.
• It was done quickly and without ceremony.
• Many dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
• She was buried with great ceremony in the Abbey.
• The marriage ceremony was performed by the bishop.
• They were married in a simple ceremony.
• With due ceremony, he took the oath to become president.
• Without ceremony, the woman slammed the door shut in my face.
• a same-sex commitment ceremony
• a special ceremony to mark the end of the war
• an official ceremony to welcome the new director
• the Japanese tea ceremony
• the guest of honour at the ceremony
• the opening ceremony of the Olympic games
• the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding
• an awards ceremony
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ceremony / ˈser.ɪ.mə.ni / noun [ C or U ] ( formal ceremonial ) (FORMAL ACTS)
B1 (a set of) formal acts, often fixed and traditional, performed on important social or religious occasions:
a wedding/graduation ceremony
ceremonial / ˌser.ɪˈməʊ.ni.əl / / -ˈmoʊ- / adjective
ceremonial occasions/duties
ceremonially / ˌser.ɪˈməʊ.ni.ə.li / / -ˈmoʊ- / adverb
ceremony / ˈser.ɪ.mə.ni / noun [ U ] (FORMAL BEHAVIOUR)
very formal and polite behaviour:
She arrived at the airport without the pomp and ceremony that usually accompanies important politicians.
I handed her my letter of resignation without ceremony (= in an informal way) .
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
ceremony
[se̱rɪməni, AM -moʊni]
ceremonies
1) N-COUNT A ceremony is a formal event such as a wedding.
...his grandmother's funeral, a private ceremony attended only by the family...
Today's award ceremony took place at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
2) N-UNCOUNT: usu with N Ceremony consists of the special things that are said and done on very formal occasions.
The Republic was proclaimed in public with great ceremony.
...the pomp and ceremony of the Pope's visit.
3) N-UNCOUNT: without N If you do something without ceremony, you do it quickly and in a casual way.
`Is Hilton here?' she asked without ceremony.
4) → See also master of ceremonies
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
ceremony
cer·e·mo·ny /ˈserəˌmoʊni/ noun, pl -nies
1 [count] : a formal act or event that is a part of a social or religious occasion
• graduation/wedding ceremonies
• There will be a ceremony honoring the town's veterans next week.
- see also master of ceremonies
2 [noncount] : very polite or formal behavior
• With great ceremony, the children presented each of the visitors with a gift.
• He told them abruptly and without ceremony that they would have to leave.
stand on ceremony : to insist on doing the things that are usual or expected in polite or formal behavior - usually used in negative statements
• He doesn't stand on ceremony, he gets the job done.
