1. a. A body of persons sent to conduct negotiations or establish relations with a foreign country. b. The business with which such a body of persons is charged. c. A permanent diplomatic office abroad. d. A body of experts or dignitaries sent to a foreign country.

2. a. A body of persons sent to a foreign land by a religious organization, especially a Christian organization, to spread its faith or provide educational, medical, and other assistance. b. A mission established abroad. c. The district assigned to a mission worker. d. A building or compound housing a mission. e. An organization for carrying on missionary work in a territory. f. missions Missionary duty or work.

3. A Christian church or congregation with no cleric of its own that depends for support on a larger religious organization.

4. A series of special Christian services for purposes of proselytizing.

5. A welfare or educational organization established for the needy people of a district.

6. a. A special assignment given to a person or group: an agent on a secret mission. b. A combat operation assigned to a person or military unit. c. An aerospace operation intended to carry out specific program objectives: a mission to Mars.

7. An inner calling to pursue an activity or perform a service; a vocation.

1. To send on a mission.

2. To organize or establish a religious mission among or in.

1. Of or relating to a mission.

2. Of or relating to a style of architecture or furniture used in the early Spanish missions of California.

3. Often Mission Of, relating to, or having the distinctive qualities of an early 20th-century style of plain, heavy, dark-stained wood furniture.