I. ˈhōm noun
Etymology: Middle English hom, from Old English hām village, home; akin to Old High German heim home, Lithuanian šeima family, servants, Sanskrit kṣema habitable, kṣeti he dwells, Greek ktizein to inhabit
Date: before 12th century
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
home is where the heart is
b. : habitat
4.
a. : a place of origin
salmon returning to their home to spawn
also : one's own country
having troubles at home and abroad
b. : headquarters 2
home of the dance company
5. : an establishment providing residence and care for people with special needs
home s for the elderly
6. : the objective in various games ; especially : home plate
•
- at home
II. adverb
Date: before 12th century
1. : to or at one's home
go home
stayed home all day
2.
a. : to a final, closed, or ultimate position
drive a nail home
b. : to or at an ultimate objective (as a goal or finish line)
3. : to a vital sensitive core
the truth struck home
•
- home free
III. adjective
Date: 1552
1. : of, relating to, or being a home, place of origin, or base of operations
home office
2. : prepared, done, or designed for use in a home
home remedies
home cooking
a home videotape system
3. : operating or occurring in a home area
the home team
home games
IV. verb
( homed ; hom·ing )
Date: 1765
intransitive verb
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 home in on radar
4. : to proceed or direct attention toward an objective
science is homing in on the mysterious human process — Sam Glucksberg
transitive verb
: to send to or provide with a home