Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Definition of charity noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Oxford3000

charity

noun
charity pronunciation English ˈtʃærəti charity pronunciation American ˈtʃærəti
plural charities
 
1 [countable] an organization for helping people in needMany charities sent money to help the victims of the famine.The concert will raise money for local charities.2 [uncountable] the aim of giving money, food, help, etc. to people who are in needMost of the runners in the London Marathon are raising money for charity.Do you give much to charity?a charity concert (= organized to get money for charity)to live on/off charity (= to live on money which other people give you because you are poor)3 [uncountable] (formal) kindness and sympathy towards other people, especially when you are judging themHer article showed no charity towards her former friends.
Idioms

charity begins at home

(saying) you should help and care for your own family, etc. before you start helping other people