[home] n [ME hom, fr. OE ham village, home; akin to OHG heim home] (bef. 12c) 1 a: one's place of residence: domicile b: house
2: the social unit formed by a family living together 3 a: a familiar or usual setting: congenial environment; also: the focus of one's domestic attention "~ is where the heart is" b: habitat
4. a: a place of origin "salmon returning to their ~ to spawn"; also: one's own country "having troubles at ~ and abroad" b: headquarters
2. "~ of the dance company"
5: an establishment providing residence and care for people with special needs "~s for the elderly" "a ~ for unwed mothers"
6: the objective in various games; esp: home plate -- at home 1: relaxed and comfortable: at ease "felt completely at home on the stage"
2: in harmony with the surroundings
3: on familiar ground: knowledgeable "teachers at home in their subject fields"
[2]home adv (bef. 12c) 1: to, from, or at one's home "go ~" "left ~ at the age of 12"
2. a: to a final, closed, or ultimate position "drive a nail ~" b: to or at an ultimate objective (as a goal or finish line)
3: to a vital sensitive core "the truth struck ~" -- home free : out of jeopardy: in a comfortable position with respect to some objective [3]home adj (1552) 1: of, relating to, or being a home, place of origin, or base of operations "~ office" "checkers in position on their ~ squares"
2: prepared, done, or designed for use in a home "~ remedies" "~ cooking" "a ~ videotape system"
3: operating or occurring in a home area "the ~ team" "~ games" [4]home vb homed ; hom.ing vi (1765) 1: to go or return home
2. of an animal: to return accurately to one's home or natal area from a distance
3: to proceed to or toward a source of radiated energy used as a guide "missiles ~ in on radar"
4: to proceed or direct attention toward an objective "science is homing in on the mysterious human process --Sam Glucksberg" ~ vt: to send to or provide with a home