the sacred writings of the Christian religions
"he went to carry the Word to the heathen"
a book regarded as authoritative in its field
"For anyone studying marine biology, his collection of classic texts serves as an absolute bible for understanding deep-sea ecosystems."
Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”)
"She was reading her own annotated Bible while waiting for the train."
A specific version, edition, translation, or copy of one of the above-mentioned texts.
In plain English: A bible is either the holy book of Christianity containing God's teachings or any collection of important books on a specific subject.
"My little brother carries his favorite comic book version of the Bible in his backpack everywhere he goes."
Usage: Use "bible" to refer to any authoritative guide or manual for a specific subject, such as an instruction manual or a rulebook, rather than just the religious text itself. You might say, "The car's service bible lists all recommended maintenance schedules," to emphasize its role as a definitive reference.
The main religious text in Christianity.
"The genealogist confirmed that Bible was indeed a matronymic surname derived from his mother's name."
A matronymic surname, from given names.
The word bible comes from Ancient Greek, originally referring to any small book made of papyrus. It entered English via Middle Latin and Middle English, where the plural form was mistakenly treated as a singular feminine noun.