Main Entry: of·fice

Pronunciation: \ˈä-fəs, ˈȯ-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin officium service, duty, office, from opus work + facere to make, do — more at operate, do

Date: 13th century

1 a : a special duty, charge, or position conferred by an exercise of governmental authority and for a public purpose : a position of authority to exercise a public function and to receive whatever emoluments may belong to it b : a position of responsibility or some degree of executive authority
2 [Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin officium, from Latin] : a prescribed form or service of worship; specifically capitalized : divine office
3 : a religious or social ceremonial observance : rite
4 a : something that one ought to do or must do : an assigned or assumed duty, task, or role b : the proper or customary action of something : function c : something done for another : service
5 : a place where a particular kind of business is transacted or a service is supplied: as a : a place in which the functions of a public officer are performed b : the directing headquarters of an enterprise or organization c : the place in which a professional person conducts business
6 plural chiefly British : the apartments, attached buildings, or outhouses in which the activities attached to the service of a house are carried on
7 a : a major administrative unit in some governments <British Foreign Office> b : a subdivision of some government departments <Patent Office>

synonyms see function