Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense houses, present participle housing, past tense, past participle housedpronunciation note: Pronounced (haʊs) for the noun and adjective, and (haʊz) for the verb. The form houses is pronounced (haʊzɪz).
1. countable noun
A house is a building in which people live, usually the people belonging to one family.
She has moved to a smaller house.
...her parents' house in Warwickshire.
Synonyms: home, residence, dwelling [formal, literary], building More Synonyms of house
2. singular noun
You can refer to all the people who live together in a house as thehouse.
If he set his alarm clock for midnight, it would wake the whole house.
Synonyms: household, family, ménage More Synonyms of house
3. countable noun [noun NOUN]
House is used in the names of types of places where people go to eat and drink.
...a steak house.
...an old Salzburg coffee house.
4. countable noun [noun NOUN]
House is used in the names of types of companies, especially ones which publish books, lend money, or design clothes.
Many of the clothes come from the world's top fashion houses.
Eventually she was fired from her job at a publishing house.
Synonyms: firm, company, business, concern More Synonyms of house
5. countable noun [noun NOUN]
House is sometimes used in the names of office buildings and large private homes or expensive houses.
[mainly British]
I was to go to the very top floor of Bush House in Aldwych.
...Harewood House near Leeds.
6. countable noun
You can refer to the two main bodies of Britain's parliament and the United States of America's legislature as theHouse or a House.
Some members of the House and Senate worked all day yesterday.
The Republicans have majorities in both Houses.
7. singular noun [the/thisN]
You can refer to all the people at a debate as thehouse.
[British, formal]
The club is planning a public debate on 'This house believes that journalism hasnot gained from the introduction of new technology'.
8. countable noun
In a British school, a house is a group of children of different ages who compete against other groups in sports and other activities. Each house usually has a name.
He was a prefect and house captain.
9. countable noun
A house is a family which has been or will be important for many generations, especially the family of a king or queen.
...the Saudi Royal House.
...the House of Windsor. [+ of]
Synonyms: dynasty, line, race, tribe More Synonyms of house
10. countable noun
The house is the part of a theatre, cinema, or other place of entertainment where the audience sits. You can also refer to the audience at a particular performance as the house.
They played in front of a packed house.
Synonyms: audience, crowd, gathering, assembly More Synonyms of house
11. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A restaurant's house wine is the cheapest wine it sells, which is not listed by name on the wine list.
Tweed ordered a carafe of the house wine.
...a bottle of house red or white.
12. verb
To house someone means to provide a house or flat for them to live in.
Part III of the Housing Act 1985 imposes duties on local authorities to house homelesspeople. [VERB noun]
Regrettably we have to house families in these inadequate flats. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: accommodate, board, quarter, take in More Synonyms of house
13. verb [no cont]
A building or container that houses something is the place where it is located or from where it operates.
The château itself is open to the public and houses a museum of motorcycles and cars. [VERB noun]
Many years later, the temple erected in her name was used to house the Roman mint. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: contain, keep, hold, cover More Synonyms of house
14. verb [no cont]
If you say that a building houses a number of people, you mean that is the place where they live or where they arestaying.
The building will house twelve boys and eight girls. [VERB noun]
Their villas housed army officers now. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: take, accommodate, sleep, provide shelter for More Synonyms of house
15. See also boarding house, chapter house, clearing house, council house, doll's house, full house, open house, opera house, public house, Wendy house, White House
16.
See to bring the house down
17.
See like a house on fire
18.
See to keep house
19.
See on the house
20.
See get/set one's house in order
More Synonyms of house
house in British English
noun (haʊs)Word forms: pluralhouses (ˈhaʊzɪz)
1.
a.
a building used as a home; dwelling
b.
(as modifier)
house dog
2.
the people present in a house, esp its usual occupants
3.
a.
a building used for some specific purpose
b.
(in combination)
a schoolhouse
4. (often capital)
a family line including ancestors and relatives, esp a noble one
the House of York
5.
a.
a commercial company; firm
a publishing house
b.
(as modifier)
house style
a house journal
6.
an official deliberative or legislative body, such as one chamber of a bicameral legislature
7.
a quorum in such a body (esp in the phrase make a house)
8.
a dwelling for a religious community
9. astrology
any of the 12 divisions of the zodiac
See also planet (sense 3)
10.
a.
any of several divisions, esp residential, of a large school
b.
(as modifier)
house spirit
11.
a.
a hotel, restaurant, bar, inn, club, etc, or the management of such an establishment
b.
(as modifier)
house rules
c.
(in combination)
steakhouse
12. (modifier)
(of wine) sold unnamed by a restaurant, at a lower price than wines specified on the wine list
the house red
13.
the audience in a theatre or cinema
14. an informal word for brothel
15.
a hall in which an official deliberative or legislative body meets
16. full house
17. curling
the 12-foot target circle around the tee
18. nautical
any structure or shelter on the weather deck of a vessel
19. bring the house down
20. house and home
21. keep open house
22. like a house on fire
23. on the house
24. put one's house in order
25. safe as houses
verb (haʊz)
26. (transitive)
to provide with or serve as accommodation
27.
to give or receive shelter or lodging
28. (transitive)
to contain or cover, esp in order to protect
29. (transitive)
to fit (a piece of wood) into a mortise, joint, etc
30. (transitive) nautical
a.
to secure or stow
b.
to secure (a topmast)
c.
to secure and stow (an anchor)
Derived forms
houseless (ˈhouseless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English hūs; related to Old High German hūs, Gothic gudhūs temple, Old Norse hūs house
House in British English
(haʊs)
noun
the House
1. House of Commons
2. British informal
the Stock Exchange
house in American English
(haʊs; for v. haʊz)
nounWord forms: pluralˈhouses (ˈhaʊzɪz)
1.
a building for human beings to live in
; specif.,
a.
the building or part of a building occupied by one family or tenant; dwelling place
b. British
a college in a university
c.
an inn; tavern; hotel
d.
a building where a group of people live as a unit
a fraternity house
e.
a monastery, nunnery, or similar religious establishment
f. US, Informal
a brothel
2.
the people who live in a house, considered as a unit; social group; esp., a familyor household
3. [oftenH-]
a family as including kin, ancestors, and descendants, esp. a royal or noble family
the House of Tudor
4.
something regarded as a house; place that provides shelter, living space, etc.
; specif.,
a.
the habitation of an animal, as the shell of a mollusk
b.
a building or shelter where animals are kept
the monkey house in a zoo
c.
a building where things are kept when not in use
a carriage house
5.
any place where something is thought of as living, resting, etc.
6.
a.
a theater
b.
the audience in a theater
7.
a.
a place of business
b.
a business firm; commercial establishment
8. US
the management of a gambling establishment
9.
a church, temple, or synagogue
house of worship
10. [oftenH-]
a.
the building or rooms where a legislature or branch of a legislature meets
b.
a legislative assembly or governing body
11. US
house music
12. Astrology
a.
any of the twelve parts into which the heavens are divided by great circles through the north and south points of the horizon
b.
a sign of the zodiac considered as the seat of a planet's greatest influence
adjective
13.
designating or of a salad dressing, brand of liquor, etc. served at a particular bar or restaurant
verb transitiveWord forms: housed or ˈhousing
14.
to provide, or serve as, a house or lodgings for
15.
to store in a house
16.
to cover, harbor, or shelter by or as if by putting in a house
17. Architecture and Mechanics
to insert into a housing
verb intransitive
18.
to take shelter
19.
to reside; live
Idioms:
bring down the house
clean house
keep house
like a house on fire
on the house
play house
set one's house in order
the House
Word origin
ME hous < OE hus, akin to Ger haus (OHG hūs) < IE *(s)keus- < base *(s)keu-, to cover, conceal > sky
More idioms containing
house
someone would not give someone or something house room
put your house in order
a house of cards
a halfway house
get on like a house on fire
eat someone out of house and home
bring the house down
COBUILD Collocations
house
packed house
Examples of 'house' in a sentence
house
Focus on getting set of three houses quickly and watch your income grow.
The Sun (2016)
Would they give one up to house a refugee family?
The Sun (2016)
Most people leave the house in substandard attire at some point or another.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You can also oer to go on house viewings with them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
New love has a gift for turning houses into welcoming homes.
The Sun (2016)
Four in ten admitted they simply did not want to leave the house.
The Sun (2016)
He hopes an opera house will provide income.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Make sure the house is well aired.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The presence of cats and dogs in the house also tends to discourage them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Cotswold stone houses with flagstone floors, beams and inglenook fireplaces are also popular.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So how can you secure the house you want?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Young people go from house to house playing music and giving out eggs as good luck presents.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
We get to his house and go up to his room.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You have a gift for turning a house into a home and can repair fractured family relationships.
The Sun (2012)
We cannot become wealthier by selling each other more and more expensive houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She will find it hard to leave the house so may have few friends.
The Sun (2010)
The tourist office is housed in one of the best palaces.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They line four rooms of his house from floor to ceiling.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Two further houses provide six more bedrooms.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What can you do to make your house less of a target?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He had earlier spoken against the building of the new houses.
The Sun (2013)
Emergency crews discovered the body inside the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Many of the houses are beautiful and worth millions.
The Sun (2015)
She said he seems obsessed by the idea of being the oldest man in the house.
Nightingale, Carl Husemoller On the Edge: A History of Poor Black Children and Their American Dreams (1993)
The measures needed are reforms of property taxation to encourage house building.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We were moved to a council house and my name was also on the rent book.
Turner, Janine Behind Closed Doors - advice for families with violence in the home (1988)
There will be some bumper tips in restaurants and house prices will be given a kick upwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We were playing together at her house.
The Sun (2015)
Just beyond a small wooden pole stretched across the road was a large house on the right of the road.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
If you are letting out a family house, be flexible.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We had to put the cars behind the house, keep the lights out and so on.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Below we list average house prices around the country, along with the most costly and cheapest areas.
The Sun (2007)
I got to my mum's house well after midnight.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
A house is a machine for living inLe CorbusierVers une architecture
Word lists with
house
home
In other languages
house
British English: house /haʊs/ NOUN
A house is a building in which people live.
She has moved to a smaller house.
American English: house
Arabic: بَيْتٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: casa
Chinese: 房屋
Croatian: kuća
Czech: dům obytný
Danish: hus
Dutch: huis
European Spanish: casa
Finnish: talo
French: maison
German: Haus
Greek: σπίτι
Italian: casa
Japanese: 家
Korean: 주택
Norwegian: hus
Polish: dom
European Portuguese: casa
Romanian: casă
Russian: дом
Latin American Spanish: casa
Swedish: hus
Thai: บ้าน
Turkish: ev
Ukrainian: будинок
Vietnamese: ngôi nhà
1 (noun)
Definition
a building used as a home
her parents' house in Warwickshire
Synonyms
home
the allocation of land for new homes
residence
There was a stabbing at a residence next door.
dwelling (formal, literary)
Three thousand new dwellings are planned.
building
They were on the upper floor of the building.
pad (slang, old-fashioned)
She wants to buy a pad near Sydney's Bondi Beach.
homestead
edifice
a list of historical edifices she must not fail to visit
abode
I went round the streets and found his new abode.
habitation (formal)
Behind the habitations, the sandstone cliffs rose abruptly.
domicile
They had moved their domicile to Bermuda.
whare (New Zealand)
2 (noun)
Definition
the people in a house
If he set his alarm clock, it would wake the whole house.
Synonyms
household
growing up in a male-only household
family
His family are completely behind him, whatever he decides.
ménage
3 (noun)
Definition
a commercial company
the world's top fashion houses
Synonyms
firm
The firm's employees were expecting large bonuses.
company
She worked in an insurance company.
business
The company was a family business.
concern
If not a large concern, his business was at least a successful one.
organization
Most of the funds are provided by voluntary organizations.
partnership
As the partnership prospered, the employees shared in the benefits.
establishment
Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed today.
outfit (informal)
He works for a private security outfit.
4 (noun)
Definition
a law-making body or the hall where it meets
the joint sessions of the two parliamentary houses
Synonyms
assembly
parliament
The Bangladesh parliament has approved the policy.
Commons
legislative body
5 (noun)
The house offers a couple of freshly prepared à la carte dishes.
Synonyms
restaurant
inn
the Waterside inn
hotel
They are staying in a hotel near the airport.
pub (British, informal)
He was in the pub until closing time.
tavern
The tavern was packed with about 120 drinkers.
public house
hostelry
6 (noun)
Definition
a family or dynasty
the Saudi Royal House
Synonyms
dynasty
The dynasty was founded in 1094.
line
We were part of a long line of artists.
race
We welcome students of all races, faiths and nationalities.
tribe
three hundred members of the Xhosa tribe
clan
A clash had taken place between rival clans.
ancestry
They can trace their ancestry back to the seventeenth century.
lineage
They can trace their lineage back to the 18th century.
family tree
the difficulties of tracing a complex family tree
kindred
She has reconnected with her kindred.
7 (noun)
Definition
the audience in a theatre or cinema
They played in front of a packed house.
Synonyms
audience
The entire audience broke into loud applause.
crowd
When the song finished, the crowd went wild.
gathering
He spoke today before a large gathering of world leaders.
assembly
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
1 (verb)
Definition
to give accommodation to
Regrettably we have to house families in these inadequate flats.
Synonyms
accommodate
Students are accommodated in homes nearby.
board
quarter
Our soldiers are quartered in Peredelkino.
take in
put up
lodge
They questioned me, then lodged me in a children's home.
harbour
harbouring terrorist suspects
billet
The soldiers were billeted in private homes.
domicile
2 (verb)
Definition
to contain or cover (something)
The building houses a collection of motorcycles and cars.
Synonyms
contain
Factory shops contain a wide range of cheap furnishings.
keep
She kept her money under the mattress.
hold
The small bottles don't seem to hold much.
cover
The law covers four categories of experiments.
store
chips for storing data
protect
He vowed to protect them.
shelter
A neighbour sheltered the boy for seven days.
3 (verb)
The building will house twelve boys and eight girls.
Synonyms
take
The place could just about take 2000 people.
accommodate
The school was not big enough to accommodate all the children.
sleep
The villa sleeps 10.
provide shelter for
give a bed to
phrase
See on the house
Quotation
A house is a machine for living in [Le Corbusier – Vers une architecture]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abode
Definition
one's home
I went round the streets and found his new abode.
Synonyms
home,
house,
quarters,
lodging,
pad (slang, old-fashioned),
residence,
habitat,
dwelling (formal, literary),
habitation (formal),
domicile,
dwelling place
in the sense of ancestry
Definition
family descent
They can trace their ancestry back to the seventeenth century.
Synonyms
origin,
house,
family,
line,
race,
stock,
blood,
ancestors,
descent,
pedigree,
extraction,
lineage,
forebears,
antecedents,
parentage,
forefathers,
genealogy,
derivation,
progenitors
in the sense of billet
Definition
to assign a lodging to (a soldier)
The soldiers were billeted in private homes.
Synonyms
quarter,
post,
station,
locate,
install,
accommodate,
berth,
garrison
Synonyms of 'house'
house
Explore 'house' in the dictionary
All related terms of 'house'
art-house
An art-house film is a film that is intended to be a serious artistic work rather than a piece of popular entertainment .
big house, the
a penitentiary
end house
the last house in a row , terrace , or street , from the viewpoint of the speaker
fun house
an attraction at a funfair , carnival , etc, with a variety of entertainment such as clowns , distorting mirrors , etc
house red
a red wine sold unnamed by a restaurant , at a lower price than wines specified on the wine list
house-sat
to live in and look after a house during the absence of its owner or owners
house-sit
to live in and look after a house during the absence of its owner or owners
ice house
a building for storing ice
in-house
In-house work or activities are done by employees of an organization or company, rather than by workers outside the organization or company.
nut house
a psychiatric hospital
row house
A row house is one of a row of similar houses that are joined together by both of their side walls .
the House
→ House of Commons
Acid House
Acid house is a type of electronic dance music with a strong, repeated rhythm .
beach house
a holiday house overlooking a beach
black house
a type of thatched house , usually made of turf , formerly found in the highlands and islands of Scotland
Buck House
the London residence of the British sovereign : built in 1703, rebuilt by John Nash in 1821–36 and partially redesigned in the early 20th century
bush house
a shed or hut in the bush or a garden
Bute House
a house in Charlotte Square , Edinburgh : official residence of the First Minister of Scotland
clean house
to clean and put a home in order
coach house
a building in which a coach is kept
crack house
a house or flat where drugs are dealt and used
crazy house
a psychiatric hospital
death house
the section of a prison containing an execution chamber and the cells in which persons condemned to die are housed in the days just before their execution
dock house
traditionally a building situated at the dock where a harbourmaster works and resides
doss-house
A doss-house is a kind of cheap hotel in a city for people who have no home and very little money.
dower house
a house set apart for the use of a widow , often on her deceased husband's estate
field house
a building in which athletes can get changed, showered , etc
frame house
a house that has a timber framework and cladding
free house
In Britain , a free house is a pub which is not owned by a particular company and so can sell whatever beers it chooses .
full house
If a theatre has a full house for a particular performance , it has as large an audience as it can hold.
guest house
A guest house is a small hotel .
hash house
a cheap café or restaurant
hell house
(in the US) a visitor attraction provided by fundamentalist Christians, in which each room contains a gruesome tableau of a sin and its divine punishment, intended to encourage the spectator to seek salvation in Christ
house agent
British → another name for estate agent
house call
a visit made by a doctor , repair person, etc, to a patient or customer in his or her own home
house-clean
to clean the inside of a person's house
house-craft
skill in domestic management
house finch
a brownish Old World finch , Acanthis cannabina : the male has a red breast and forehead
house group
a group of Christians who regularly meet to worship , study the Bible , etc, in someone's house
house guest
A house guest is a person who is staying at someone's house for a period of time.
house-hunt
to search for a house to buy or rent
house moth
either of two species of micro moth , esp the brown house moth ( Hofmannophila pseudospretella ) which, although it usually inhabits birds' nests , sometimes enters houses where its larvae can be very destructive of stored fabrics and foodstuffs
house mouse
any of various greyish mice of the Old World genus Mus , esp M. musculus, a common household pest in most parts of the world: family Muridae
House music
a type of disco music originating in the late 1980s, based on funk , with fragments of other recordings edited in electronically
house organ
a periodical published by an organization for its employees or clients
house owner
A house owner is a person who owns a house.
house party
A house party is a party held at a big house in the country, usually at a weekend , where the guests stay for a few days.
house plant
A house plant is a plant which is grown in a pot indoors.
house-proud
proud of the appearance, cleanliness, etc, of one's house, sometimes excessively so
house rosé
a rosé wine sold unnamed by a restaurant , at a lower price than wines specified on the wine list
Chinese translation of 'house'
house
(nhaus; vbhauz)
n
(c) (= home) 家 (jiā) (个(個), gè)
(s) (= household) 全家 (quánjiā)
⇒ The noise woke the whole house.那个声音吵醒了全家。 (Nàge shēngyīn chǎoxǐngle quánjiā.)