Definition of "baptistery" [bap•tis•ter•y]

• A part of a church or a separate building used for baptizing. (noun)
• A font used for baptism. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The baptistery is a beautiful fount of carved stone."
• "The name baptistery is also given to a kind of chapel in a large church, which serves the same purpose."
• "Church; for Baptism is given in a place called the baptistery, railed off from the church and near the door, because formerly the ceremony up to this point was performed outside the church, and at this part of the ceremony the person was led in to be baptized."