Main Entry: us·age

Pronunciation: \ˈyü-sij, -zij\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from us use

Date: 14th century

1 a : firmly established and generally accepted practice or procedure b : a uniform certain reasonable lawful practice existing in a particular locality or occupation and binding persons entering into transactions chiefly on the basis of presumed familiarity c : the way in which words and phrases are actually used (as in a particular form or sense) in a language community
2 a : the action, amount, or mode of using <a decreased usage of electricity> b : manner of treating

synonyms see habit