What's the difference between a temple and a shrine?

Question

What's the difference between a temple and a shrine?

Answer 1

Formal, organized worship takes place in a temple, but not usually at a shrine, which may simple be a very small structure along a road.  However, a temple may also contain one or more shrines.  Then, too, "temple" usually connotes a Jewish or "non-book" place of worship, whereas "shrine" can pertain to almost any faith or even be secular.  

Answer 2

temples are much bigger.

Answer 3

A temple is a whole building staffed with priests and/or priestesses,

A shrine could be an altar or a very small temple that doesn't need a staff of priests.

Answer 4

A temple is, generally speaking, a building used as a place of worship. It's not a term much used in Western Christianity, but the Mormons use this title for their most important religious buildings. Jews worship in a temple, as do the adherents of many Eastern religions. In classical times, the religious structures built by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans were called temples.

A shrine is usually some sort of structure which contains a grave or relic of a revered person or a painting or statue which is used as a focus for some sort of devotional activity. In some Christian religions, churches sometimes contain shrines. Where I live (Italy) it's common to see little shrines containing a statue of the Virgin Mary or a crucifix by the side of the road and set into niches in walls in town. But some Islamic shrines are very grand places indeed.