n.1 a room or building used as a place of business, esp. for clerical or administrative work.
2 a room or department or building for a particular kind of business (ticket office; post office).
3 the local centre of a large business (our London office).
4 US the consulting-room of a professional person.
5 a position with duties attached to it; a place of authority or trust or service, esp. of a public nature.
6 tenure of an official position, esp. that of a minister of State or of the party forming the Government (hold office; out of office for 13 years).
7 (Office) the quarters or staff or collective authority of a Government department etc. (Foreign Office).
8 a duty attaching to one's position; a task or function.
9 (usu. in pl.) a piece of kindness or attention; a service (esp. through the good offices of).
10 Eccl. a an authorized form of worship (Office for the Dead). b (in full divine office) the daily service of the Roman Catholic breviary (say the office).
11 a ceremonial duty.
12 (in pl.) Brit. the parts of a house devoted to household work, storage, etc.
13 sl. a hint or signal.
Phrases and idioms:
the last offices rites due to the dead. office-bearer an official or officer. office block a large building designed to contain business offices. office boy (or girl) a young man (or woman) employed to do minor jobs in a business office. office hours the hours during which business is normally conducted. office of arms the College of Arms, or a similar body in another country. office-worker an employee in a business office.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L officium performance of a task (in med.L also office, divine service), f. opus work + facere fic- do