noun Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity. A human being or an animal, or a physical object or immaterial thing (see etymology 1 sense 1.3), offered to a deity. The offering of devotion, penitence, prayer, thanksgiving, etc., to a deity. Jesus Christ's voluntary offering of himself to God the Father to be crucified as atonement for the sins of humankind. The rite of Holy Communion or the Mass, regarded as an offering of thanksgiving to God for Christ's crucifixion, or a perpetual re-presentation of Christ's sacrificial offering.
noun Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity.
noun A human being or an animal, or a physical object or immaterial thing (see etymology 1 sense 1.3), offered to a deity.
noun The offering of devotion, penitence, prayer, thanksgiving, etc., to a deity.
noun Jesus Christ's voluntary offering of himself to God the Father to be crucified as atonement for the sins of humankind. The rite of Holy Communion or the Mass, regarded as an offering of thanksgiving to God for Christ's crucifixion, or a perpetual re-presentation of Christ's sacrificial offering.
noun Jesus Christ's voluntary offering of himself to God the Father to be crucified as atonement for the sins of humankind.
noun The rite of Holy Communion or the Mass, regarded as an offering of thanksgiving to God for Christ's crucifixion, or a perpetual re-presentation of Christ's sacrificial offering.
noun The destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else regarded as more urgent or valuable; also, the thing destroyed or surrendered for this purpose.
the sacrifice of one’s spare time in order to volunteer