/hohm"sted, -stid/ , n.
1. a dwelling with its land and buildings, occupied by the owner as a home and exempted by a homestead law from seizure or sale for debt.
2. any dwelling with its land and buildings where a family makes its home.
3. a tract of land acquired under the Homestead Act.
4. a house in an urban area acquired under a homesteading program.
v.t.
5. to acquire or settle on (land) as a homestead: Pioneers homesteaded the valley.
v.i.
6. to acquire or settle on a homestead: They homesteaded many years ago.
[ bef. 1000; OE hamstede (not found in ME). See HOME, STEAD ]