n (1)部长，大臣(high officer of state in charge of an administrative department of government)[C](=AmE secretary)：the～of Agriculture/Education/Defence/Foreign Affairs 农业/教育/国防/外交部长;the prime/foreign～总理(首相)/外交部长;〖同〗secretary(AmE);

(2)公使，外交使节(diplomatic representative ranking below an ambassador)[C]：Japanese/Chinese～to Mexico/Switzerland日本驻墨西哥/中国驻瑞士公使;send ambassadors to most countries and～s to the less important ones 向大多数国家派大使，向次要的国家派公使 M～of State (英)国务大臣;

(3)牧师(clergyman in certain branches of the Christian church)[C]：the～of the local church 本地教堂的牧师;They resented a～who brought politics to the pulpit.他们反对在布道中讲政治的牧师。〖同〗clergyman，preacher，priest;

vi (1)侍候;帮助(give service，care or aid)[I+prep(to)](fml)：～to sb's need/the wounded soldiers/the homeless after the flood 满足某人的需求/侍候伤员/照料水灾后无家可归者;The nurse～ed to the sick man's wants.护士照顾病人的需要。〖同〗care for，attend to;

→minis′terial adj部长(大臣)的;′ministry n(政府的)部，部办公楼