Definition of house
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families : home
invited them to her house for dinner a two-family house
b
: a building in which something is sheltered or stored
a carriage house
3a
astrology
: one of the 12 equal sectors (see sector entry 1 sense 1a) in which the celestial sphere is divided
b
astrology
: a sign of the zodiac that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence
the house occupied by Jupiter
4a
: household
woke up the whole house
b
: a family including ancestors, descendants, and kindred
the house of Tudor
5a
: a residence for a religious community or for students
a fraternity house
b
: the community or students living in such a residence
6a
government
: a legislative, deliberative, or consultative assembly
especially
: one constituting a division of a bicameral body
a bill approved by both houses of Congress
b
: the building or chamber where such an assembly meets
c
: a quorum of such an assembly
7a
: a place of business or entertainment
a movie house the local fish house a house of prostitution Save room for a soufflé, the century-long house specialty …— Thomas P. Farley a house cocktail [=a cocktail whose recipe was created by the bar, restaurant, etc. at which it is served]
b(1)
: a business organization
a publishing house
(2)
: a gambling establishment
c
: the audience in a theater or concert hall
a full house on opening night
8
curling
: the circular area 12 feet in diameter surrounding the tee and within which a curling stone must rest in order to count
9
[from The Warehouse, Chicago dance club that pioneered the style]
: a type of dance music mixed by a disc jockey that features overdubbing with a heavy repetitive drumbeat and repeated electronic melody lines
on the house
: without charge : free
house
verb
housed; housing
Definition of house (Entry 2 of 3)
1a
: to provide with living quarters or shelter
a place to house their guests
b
: to store in a building
the barn where they house their boat
2
: to encase, enclose, or shelter as if by putting in a house (see house entry 1)
so timorous a soul housed in so impressive a body— A. W. Long
3
: to serve as a shelter or container for : contain
buildings that house government offices
: to take shelter : lodge
House
biographical nameDefinition of House (Entry 3 of 3)
Edward Mandell 1858–1938 Colonel House American diplomat
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
February 2021 Words of the Day Quiz
-
- Which is a synonym of perdure?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share house
Time Traveler for house
The first known use of house was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century