charity

/ˈtʃɛrədi/

/ˈtʃærɪti/

Other forms: charities

Charity is the donation of something, like money, to a cause or person in need. Before offering charity to someone, make sure he is, in fact, needy, and not just some fashion fiend dressed like a homeless person!

Charity comes in many forms including monetary donation, volunteering, or providing clothes and food for those less fortunate. The Greek poet Homer said, “The charity that is a trifle to us can be precious to others.” Think of charity, then, as something that may cost you a little, but can benefit someone else greatly. Charity also refers to a nice way to treat people, an organization that helps people, or a plant with blue and white flowers.

Definitions of charity

1. noun

   an institution set up to provide help to the needy
   types:

   community chest

   a charity supported by individual subscriptions; defrays the demands on a community for social welfare

   soup kitchen

   a place where food is dispensed to the needy

   mission

   a ministry operated by a religious organization to carry out humanitarian work

   type of:

   establishment, institution

   an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
2. noun

   a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)
   types:

   philanthropic foundation

   a foundation that provides funds for science or art or education or religion or relief from disease etc.

   private foundation

   a charity that does not receive a major part of its support from the public

   public charity

   a charity that is deemed to receive the major part of its support from the public (rather than from a small group of individuals)

   type of:

   foundation

   an institution supported by an endowment
3. noun

   a kindly and lenient attitude toward people
   synonyms: brotherly love

   type of:

   benevolence

   an inclination to do kind or charitable acts

   supernatural virtue, theological virtue

   according to Christian ethics: one of the three virtues (faith, hope, and charity) created by God to round out the natural virtues
4. noun

   an activity or gift that benefits the public at large
   types:

   handout

   giving money or food or clothing to a needy person

   zakat

   the third pillar of Islam; almsgiving as an act of worship

   type of:

   gift, giving

   the act of giving
5. noun

   pinnate-leaved European perennial having bright blue or white flowers
   synonyms: Greek valerian, Jacob's ladder, Polemonium caeruleum, Polemonium van-bruntiae, Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae

   type of:

   polemonium

   any plant of the genus Polemonium; most are low-growing often foul-smelling plants of temperate to Arctic regions