catholic
catholic — adjective
1. covering a very wide and varied range of things — for example, someone whose int
covering a very wide and varied range of things — for example, someone whose interests, reading, or knowledge includes art, science, history, and music all at once.
The teacher had a catholic taste in music, enjoying everything from jazz to classical to folk.
catholic taste in + [broad field]
Priya's catholic reading habits meant her shelves held novels, biographies, and science texts side by side.
catholic + noun (right before noun)
His interests were remarkably catholic — he could discuss Renaissance painting, astrophysics, and modern poetry in one conversation.
The museum's collection is catholic in scope, spanning ancient fossils, medieval armour, and digital art.
- eclectic
more common and slightly more informal; 'eclectic' often implies deliberate selection from diverse sources
- broad
simpler and more general; 'broad interests' is a plain statement without the nuance of cultivated variety
- wide-ranging
more transparent in meaning; can describe both interests and physical scope
- narrow
limited in range; opposite of diverse or varied
- restricted
confined to a small set; suggests limitation rather than simple lack of variety
文法句型
catholic in + noun
catholic + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from the capitalized form: 'Catholic' (capital C) refers to the Roman Catholic Church, while 'catholic' (lowercase) means broad or wide-ranging. When you write 'catholic taste,' the lowercase c is essential — capitalising it changes the meaning to a religious reference.
常見錯誤
catholic — noun
1. a person who belongs to the part of the Christian church that accepts the Pope a
a person who belongs to the part of the Christian church that accepts the Pope as its leader — the Roman Catholic Church.
Aiko's grandmother was a devout Catholic who attended mass every Sunday without fail.
devout Catholic (common adjective + noun collocation)
The festival brought together Catholics and Protestants from across the city to share food and music.
plural: Catholics + and + other groups
As a Catholic, Diego found comfort in the traditions and rituals that had shaped his childhood.
Many Catholics observe Lent by giving up a favourite food or habit for forty days.
- Roman Catholic
the full, formal term; useful for absolute clarity
- believer
much broader; includes any religious faith, not specific to Catholicism
文法句型
a/one + Catholic
the + plural Catholics
用法筆記
Always capitalise this sense (Catholic), unlike the unrelated lowercase adjective 'catholic' (WIDE-RANGING). The noun is countable: you can say 'a Catholic' or 'Catholics.' It is not used as an adjective in this noun entry, but the related adjective form (capitalised) means 'belonging to the Catholic Church.'