ministry

Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

min·is·try (mĭnʹĭ-strē)n. pl. min·is·tries
1.
a. The act of serving; ministration.
b. One that serves as a means; an instrumentality.
2.
a. The profession, duties, and services of a minister.
b. The Christian clergy.
c. The period of service of a minister.
3.
a. A governmental department presided over by a minister.
b. The building in which such a department is housed.
c. The duties, functions, or term of a governmental minister.
d. often Ministry Governmental ministers considered as a group. [Middle English ministerie, from Old French ministere, from Latin ministerium, from minister, servant. See mei-² in Indo-European Roots.]