Definition

1. Noun:

   • A building for human habitation: A structure that serves as a dwelling place for one or more people or families.
   • A building for a specific purpose: A building used for a particular function, such as a theater, legislature, or business.
   • A family or lineage: A family, especially one considered important or noble, including all its ancestors and descendants.
   • A legislative or deliberative assembly: One of the divisions of a bicameral legislature or an official assembly with law-making powers.
   • An audience in a theater: The people assembled to watch a performance in a theater or similar venue.
   • A business firm: A commercial company, especially one involved in finance or trade.
   • A residential community: The members of a religious or other community living together.

2. Verb:

   • To provide with shelter or living quarters: To give someone a place to live; to accommodate.
   • To contain or enclose: To serve as a container or cover for something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • They bought a new house in the suburbs. (They purchased a new dwelling.)
  • The opera house was beautifully decorated. (The building for opera performances was beautifully decorated.)
  • The House of Windsor is the reigning royal family of the United Kingdom. (The Windsor family lineage is the reigning one.)
  • The bill passed in the lower house of parliament. (The bill was approved by one legislative assembly.)
  • The house gave the actor a standing ovation. (The audience applauded the actor enthusiastically.)
  • He works for a publishing house. (He is employed by a publishing company.)
  • She joined a house of nuns. (She became part of a residential religious community.)

• Verb:

  • The charity housed the refugees temporarily. (The charity provided shelter for the refugees.)
  • This cabinet houses the server equipment. (This cabinet contains the server equipment.)

Advanced Usage

• "To bring the house down": To receive extremely enthusiastic applause from an audience; to be a great success.

  • The comedian's final joke brought the house down. (The joke caused the audience to erupt in laughter and applause.)

• "To keep house": To manage the daily tasks of running a home, such as cleaning and cooking.

  • After retiring, he learned to keep house. (He learned to manage domestic duties.)

• "On the house": Provided free of charge by the management of a bar, restaurant, or other establishment.

  • Dessert is on the house tonight. (The dessert is complimentary tonight.)

Variants and Related Words

• Household (n): All the people who live together in one house.
  • The average household size has decreased.
• Houseful (n): As many people or things as a house can hold.
  • We had a houseful of guests for the holidays.
• Housing (n): Houses or accommodation collectively.
  • The city faces a housing shortage.

Synonyms

• Noun (Dwelling): Home, residence, abode, domicile.
• Noun (Firm): Company, firm, establishment, business.
• Verb (Shelter): Accommodate, lodge, quarter, put up.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• House-sit: To live in and look after someone's house while they are away.
  • I agreed to house-sit for my neighbors while they are on vacation.
• House in: To confine or enclose within a building.
  • The animals are housed in during the winter.

Related Idioms

• A house of cards: A plan, organization, or situation that is insubstantial and likely to collapse.
  • Their business plan was a house of cards, built on unrealistic assumptions.
• Eat someone out of house and home: To eat so much food that it costs someone a lot of money.
  • My teenage son is eating us out of house and home!
• Get on like a house on fire: To become friends quickly and have a very good relationship.
  • The two new colleagues got on like a house on fire.

Noun

1. a building in which something is sheltered or located
   • they had a large carriage house
2. a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
   • the house was full
3. a social unit living together
   • he moved his family to Virginia
   • It was a good Christian household
   • I waited until the whole house was asleep
   • the teacher asked how many people made up his home
4. the management of a gambling house or casino
   • the house gets a percentage of every bet
5. (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
6. play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults
   • the children were playing house
7. aristocratic family line
   • the House of York
8. an official assembly having legislative powers
   • a bicameral legislature has two houses
9. the audience gathered together in a theatre or cinema
   • the house applauded
   • he counted the house
10. the members of a religious community living together
11. the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments
    • he worked for a brokerage house
12. a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
    • he has a house on Cape Cod
    • she felt she had to get out of the house

Verb

1. provide housing for
   • The immigrants were housed in a new development outside the town
2. contain or cover
   • This box houses the gears