house

noun haʊs (plural houses 'haʊzɪz)

1》 a building for human habitation.

    ↘chiefly Scottish a dwelling that is one of several in a building.

    ↘a building in which animals live or in which things are kept.

2》 a building in which people meet for a particular activity.

    ↘a firm or institution: a fashion house.

    ↘(the House) Brit. informal the Stock Exchange.

    ↘a restaurant or inn.

    ↘a theatre.

3》 a religious community that occupies a particular building.

    ↘a residential building for pupils at a boarding school.

    ↘Brit. formal a college of a university.

4》 a legislative or deliberative assembly.

    ↘(the House) (in the UK) the House of Commons or Lords; (in the US) the House of Representatives.

5》 a dynasty.

6》 (also house music) a style of fast electronic dance music typically having sparse, repetitive vocals.

7》 Astrology a twelfth division of the celestial sphere.

adjective

1》 (of an animal or plant) kept in, frequenting, or infesting buildings.

2》 relating to a firm, institution, or society.

3》 relating to medical staff resident at a hospital.

verb haʊz

1》 provide with shelter or accommodation.

2》 provide space for.

    ↘enclose or encase.

Phrases

get on (or along) like a house on fire informal have a very good and friendly relationship.

go (all) round the houses Brit. take a circuitous route.

keep (or make) a House Brit. secure the presence of enough members for a quorum in the House of Commons.

keep house run a household.

on the house (of a drink or meal in a bar or restaurant) at the management's expense.

put (or set or get) one's house in order make necessary reforms.

Derivatives

houseful noun (plural housefuls).

houseless adjective

Origin

OE hūs (n.), hūsian (v.), of Gmc origin.