cult
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (5)
- followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
- an interest followed with exaggerated zeal“he always follows the latest fads”“it was all the rage that season”Synonyms: fadcrazefurorfurorerage
- followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader
- a religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false“it was a satanic cult”
- a system of religious beliefs and rituals“devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin”Synonyms: cultusreligious cult
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Cult \Cult\ (k[u^]lt) n. [F. culte, L. cultus care, culture, fr. colere to cultivate. Cf. Cultus.]
1.Attentive care; homage; worship. [1913 Webster]
Every one is convinced of the reality of a better self, and of the cult or homage which is due to it.— Shaftesbury.[1913 Webster]
2.A system of religious belief and worship. [1913 Webster]
That which was the religion of Moses is the ceremonial or cult of the religion of Christ.— Coleridge.[1913 Webster]
3.A system of intense religious veneration of a particular person, idea, or object, especially one considered spurious or irrational by traditional religious bodies; as, the Moonie cult. [PJC]
4.The group of individuals who adhere to a cult (senses 2 or 3). [PJC]
5.A strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing without religious associations, or the people holding such an interest; as, the cult of James Dean; the cult of personality in totalitarian societies. [PJC]