Definition of consecrate

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con·se·crate    (kns-krt) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
con·se·crat·ed, con·se·crat·ing, con·se·crates

1. To declare or set apart as sacred: consecrate a church.
2. Christianity
   1. To produce the ritual transformation of (the elements of the Eucharist) into the body and blood of Jesus.
   2. To sanctify (bread and wine) for use in Communion.
   3. To initiate (a priest) into the order of bishops.
3. To dedicate solemnly to a service or goal. See Synonyms at devote.
4. To make venerable; hallow: a tradition consecrated by time.

ADJECTIVE:

Dedicated to a sacred purpose; sanctified.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English consecraten, from Latin cnsecrre, cnsecrt- : com-, intensive pref. ; see com- + sacrre, to make sacred (from sacer, sacr-, sacred; see sak- in Indo-European roots)

OTHER FORMS:
conse·crative(Adjective), conse·crator(Noun), conse·cra·tory  (-kr-tôr, -tr) KEY (Adjective)