of ‧ fice S1 W1 /ˈɒfəs, ˈɒfɪs $ ˈɒː-, ˈɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ office , ↑ officer , ↑ official , ↑ officialdom , ↑ officialese , ↑ officiousness ; adverb : ↑ officially ≠ ↑ unofficially , ↑ officiously ; adjective : ↑ official ≠ ↑ unofficial , ↑ officious ; verb : ↑ officiate ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin officium 'service, duty, office' , from opus 'work' + facere 'to do' ]
1 . BUILDING [countable] a building that belongs to a company or an organization, with rooms where people can work at desks:
The department occupies an office just a mile from the White House.
main/head office (=the most important office)
The head office is in Edinburgh.
Did you go to the office (=the office where you work) today?
at the office
Have a nice day at the office.
local/regional office
The agency has a network of regional offices.
office staff/workers/equipment etc
Office staff need well-designed desks and chairs.
the increased demand for office space
2 . ROOM [countable] a room where someone has a desk and works, on their own or with other people:
the manager’s office
Sorry, Ann’s not in her office right now.
Dan shares an office with Lisa.
3 . office hours
a) the time between about 9:00 in the morning and 5:00 in the afternoon, when people in offices are working:
Can you phone again during office hours?
b) American English the time during the day or week when students can meet with their teacher in the teacher’s office:
Professor Lee’s office hours are from two to four on Mondays and Thursdays.
4 . JOB [uncountable and countable] an important job or position with power, especially in government:
the office of President
in office
She was celebrating ten years in office.
A provisional military government took office (=started in an important job or position) .
hold office (=have a particular important job or position)
Trujillo held office as finance minister.
a five-year term of office (=period of time working in an important job)
5 . Office used in the names of some government departments:
the Foreign Office
the Office of the District Attorney
6 . PLACE FOR INFORMATION [countable] a room or building where people go to ask for information, buy tickets etc
information/ticket etc office
the tourist office
Is there a lost property office?
⇨ ↑ box office , ↑ post office , ↑ registry office
7 . DOCTOR [countable] American English the place where a doctor or ↑ dentist examines or treats people SYN surgery British English
8 . sb’s good offices/the good offices of somebody formal help given by someone who has authority or can influence people
through the good offices of somebody
I managed to obtain a visa through the good offices of a friend in the Service.