Толковый словарь английского языка - ministry

noun (plural -tries) Date: 14th century ministration, the office, duties, or functions of a minister, the body of ministers of religion ; clergy, a person or thing through which something is accomplished ; agency, instrumentality, the period of service or office of a minister or ~, 6. often capitalized the body of ministers governing a nation or state from which a smaller cabinet is sometimes selected, the group of ministers constituting a cabinet, 7. a government department presided over by a minister, the building in which the business of a ~ is transacted