I. ˈhau̇s; sing. possessive -au̇sə̇z, -au̇zə̇z noun
( plural hous·es -au̇zə̇z chiefly substand -au̇sə̇z)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English hous, from Old English hūs; akin to Old High German & Old Norse hūs house, Gothic gud hūs temple, and probably to Old English hȳd hide — more at hide
1.
a. : a structure intended or used for human habitation : a building that serves as one's residence or domicile especially as contrasted with a place of business : a building containing living quarters for one or a few families — sometimes used at law of a room or other part of such a building; see bungalow , cottage , mansion ; apartment building , boardinghouse , dwelling house , lodging house , rooming house , tenement house ; compare apartment , home , homestead , hotel , inn , tenement
b. : regular existence in or as if in a house
left home to set up house in another town
children imitating their elders by playing house
c. : a place of habitation, rest, or abode
house of death
fleshly house of the soul
d. dialect England : the chief living room (as the kitchen) of a farmhouse or cottage
2.
a. : something (as a shell, nest, den) that serves an animal for shelter or habitation
muskrat house
b. : a building in which something is kept or stored
carriage house
reptile house
a house for hens
3.
a. : mundane house
b. : a zodiacal sign regarded as the seat of a planet's greatest influence — called also mansion, planetary house
c. obsolete : a square on a chessboard
d. : the circular area 12 feet in diameter surrounding the tee within which a curling stone must rest in order to count
4.
a. archaic : those who dwell in the same house : household
himself believed and his whole house — Jn 4:53 (Authorized Version)
b. : a family of ancestors, descendants and kindred : a race of persons from the same stock ; especially : a noble family
the great houses of England
5.
a. : the residence of a religious community
b. : the members of a religious community
6.
a. : a college in a university
b. : a hall or dormitory in a college or school
house dinner
also : the students in a hall or dormitory
house team
7.
a. : one of the estates of a kingdom or other government assembled in parliament or legislature : a body of men united in a legislative capacity
the House of Lords
also : a quorum of such a body — see house of assembly , house of commons , house of delegates , house of representatives
b. : the building or the chamber in which such a body holds its sessions
8. : a body of men forming a deliberative or consultative assembly especially of an ecclesiastical or a collegiate character
house of bishops
house of convocation
9.
a. : a business organization : firm , partnership
banking house
house of tea importers
printing house
publishing house
b.
(1) : the operators of a gambling game : the management of a gambling establishment
a percentage of each pot goes to the house
(2) : a gambling establishment : casino
10.
a. : hotel , restaurant , barroom
have a drink on the house
b. : brothel
11.
a. : a building for dramatic or musical performances : theater
b. : an audience especially in a theater
playing to small houses
a good house at the opening
I'll concentrate on acting, because I don't have to count the house — Newsweek
12. : a structure rising above the deck of a tanker or cargo ship that encloses living quarters or the bridge
13. archaic , Britain : workhouse — used with the
14. : a clump of trees or shrubs growing on a slight elevation in a Florida prairie
15. Britain : any of several lotto or keno games
II. ˈhau̇z, chiefly substand -au̇s verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English housen, from Old English hūsian, from hūs house
transitive verb
1.
a. : to provide with a permanent dwelling place or living quarters
trying to feed and house his family
b. : to lodge or shelter temporarily
guests were housed in a separate cottage
: find shelter for
c. : to confine within a house
housed with a bad cold
— often used with up
housed up all day in these four walls
d. : to store in a house
house garden tools in a shed
2.
a. : to encase, enclose, or shelter as if by putting in a house
so timorous a soul housed in so impressive a body — A.W.Long
b. : to stow or secure in a safe place
house the upper spars of a ship
house a yacht for the winter
c. : to cover (a deck) with a roof
3. : to serve as shelter for : contain
those caves may house snakes
library houses thousands of volumes
former stately homes now house professional and business offices
4. : to provide (as a play or opera) with a theater
5. : to fit (as machinery or gears) with shrouds or protective walls or housings
6.
a. : to cut a housing in (as a timber)
b. : to insert into or put together by means of a housing
intransitive verb
1. : to take shelter : find refuge : lodge , dwell , harbor
graze where you will, you shall not house with me — Shakespeare
— used often with up
house up in a cave for the winter
2. of a planet : to have position in a mundane house or a mansion
III. ˈhau̇s, -au̇z noun
( plural hous·es -au̇zə̇z, -au̇sə̇z)
Etymology: Middle English houce, house, from Middle French houce, housse, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German hulst, hulft covering, Old English heolstor darkness, cover — more at holster
: housing II
IV. ˈhau̇z, -au̇s transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to cover with or as if with a housing : caparison
a gaily housed horse
V. noun
Etymology: probably from the Warehouse , Chicago dance club opened in 1977 that played such music
: a type of dance music mixed by a disc jockey that features overdubbing with a heavy repetitive drumbeat and repeated electronic melody lines