rhizoverbBeta
DictionarychaliceCeremonial cup
noun

chalice

CHAL-is/ˈtʃælɪs/

A large ceremonial cup, especially for wine in worship.

The gold chalice has a deep bowl, ornate stem, and broad foot.

A single large ceremonial gold chalice, shown upright in three-quarter view with a deep open bowl, ornate stem, and broad stable foot.
Etymology
chaliceLatincup

Latin calix meant an ordinary cup. The ceremonial sense specializes that basic drinking-vessel meaning, and the word also has a history of ecclesiastical use.

In context

The Catholic University of America87:45
he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands
Commencement 2026: Baccalaureate Mass | The Catholic University of America

More examples

  • The museum displays a jeweled medieval chalice.
  • Wine fills the ceremonial chalice.
  • The artisan repairs the stem of the chalice.

Forms

chalice · chalices

Similar words

goblet
A large stemmed drinking cup without necessarily ceremonial use.
cup
A broader vessel category without the ritual associations.