/ həʊst; NAmE hoʊst/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a person who invites guests to a meal, a party, etc. or who has people staying at their house :
Ian, our host, introduced us to the other guests.
—see also hostess
2.
[ C ] a country, a city or an organization that holds and arranges a special event :
The college is playing host to a group of visiting Russian scientists.
3.
[ C ] a person who introduces a television or radio show, and talks to guests
SYN compère :
a TV game show host
—see also announcer , presenter
4.
[ C ] ( technical ) an animal or a plant on which another animal or plant lives and feeds
5.
[ C ] host of sb/sth a large number of people or things :
a host of possibilities
6.
[ C ] the main computer in a network that controls or supplies information to other computers that are connected to it :
transferring files from the host to your local computer
7.
the Host [ sing. ] the bread that is used in the Christian service of Communion , after it has been blessed
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to organize an event to which others are invited and make all the arrangements for them :
Germany hosted the World Cup finals.
2.
to introduce a television or radio programme, a show, etc.
SYN compère
3.
to organize a party that you have invited guests to :
to host a dinner
4.
to store a website on a computer connected to the Internet, usually in return for payment :
a company that builds and hosts e-commerce sites
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WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 4 and noun sense 6 verb Middle English : from Old French hoste , from Latin hospes , hospit- host, guest.
noun sense 5 Middle English : from Old French ost , hoost , from Latin hostis stranger, enemy (in medieval Latin army).
noun sense 7 Middle English : from Old French hoiste , from Latin hostia victim.