OFFICE


Meaning of OFFICE in English

/ ˈɒfɪs; NAmE ˈɔːf-; ˈɑːf-/ noun

ROOM / BUILDING

1.

[ C ] a room, set of rooms or building where people work, usually sitting at desks :

The company is moving to new offices on the other side of town.

Are you going to the office today?

an office job

office workers

—see also back office , head office

2.

[ C ] a room in which a particular person works, usually at a desk :

Some people have to share an office.

Come into my office.

3.

( NAmE ) = surgery :

a doctor's / dentist's office

4.

[ C ] (often in compounds) a room or building used for a particular purpose, especially to provide information or a service :

the local tourist office

a ticket office

—see also box office , registry office

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT

5.

Office [ C ] used in the names of some British government departments :

the Foreign Office

the Home Office

IMPORTANT POSITION

6.

[ U , C ] an important position of authority, especially in government; the work and duties connected with this :

She held office as a cabinet minister for ten years.

How long has he been in office ?

The party has been out of office (= has not formed a government) for many years.

The present government took office in 2005.

to seek / run for office

( BrE )

to stand for office

the office of treasurer

IDIOMS

- through sb's good offices

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English : via Old French from Latin officium performance of a task (in medieval Latin also office, divine service), based on opus work + facere do.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.