headquarters
/'hed'kwɔ:təz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun (plural in form, often used with plural or singular verb):
- The main administrative center of an organization: The central office or location from which an organization, especially a military unit, business, or institution, is directed and managed.
- The place where a commander and their staff operate: The physical location or installation from which a leader, particularly in the military or police, exercises command and control.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- The company's headquarters are located in London. (This refers to the main administrative offices of the business.)
- The general established his headquarters in the captured city. (This refers to the central command post for military operations.)
- Report to headquarters for your new assignment. (This uses the word to mean the central administrative office one must go to.)
Advanced Usage and Notes
- Grammatical Number: Although "headquarters" ends in "-s," it can be treated as either singular or plural depending on context. It is often used with a plural verb when referring to the physical offices or staff, and with a singular verb when referring to the organization or location as a single entity.
- The headquarters are issuing new guidelines. (Plural verb, focusing on the people/office issuing them.)
- The new headquarters is a modern building. (Singular verb, focusing on the building as a single location.)
- "At headquarters": A common prepositional phrase indicating location.
- The decision was made at headquarters.
Variants and Related Words
- HQ: A common abbreviation for "headquarters."
- Send the report to HQ by noon.
- Headquarter (verb): Less common, meaning to establish or provide with headquarters.
- The organization headquartered itself in Geneva.
Synonyms
- Main office: The principal office of a company.
- Central command: The primary location for directing operations (often military/police).
- Base of operations: A center from which activities are directed.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- (To be) in the headquarters: To be physically present at or working from the main administrative center.
- The CEO is in the headquarters all week for meetings.
- Headquarters staff: The group of people who work at the headquarters.
- The headquarters staff prepared the annual report.
Noun
- (plural) a military unit consisting of a commander and the headquarters staff
- the military installation from which a commander performs the functions of command
- the general's headquarters were a couple of large tents
- (usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
- many companies have their headquarters in New York