house

noun, verb

( building 1 [C] a building for people to live in, usually for one family: He went into the house. * a two-bedroom house * Let's have the party at my house. * House prices in London are still falling. * What time do you leave the house in the morning )= to go to work(? * We went on a tour of the house and grounds )for example, at a country house, open to the public(. seealsoPENTHOUSE, SAFEHOUSE, SHOWHOUSE 2 [sing.] all the people living in a house SYNHOUSEHOLD: Be quiet or you'll wake the whole house! 3 [C] )in compounds( a building used for a particular purpose, for example for holding meetings in or keeping animals or goods in: an opera house * a hen house seealsoDOGHOUSE, DOSSHOUSE, HALFWAYHOUSE, HOTHOUSE, LIGHTHOUSE, MADHOUSE, OUTHOUSE, STOREHOUSE, WAREHOUSE 4 )House( [sing.] )BrE( used in the names of office buildings: Their offices are on the second floor of Chester House. company / institution 5 [C] )in compounds( a company involved in a particular kind of business; an institution of a particular kind: a fashion / banking / publishing house * a religious house )= a CONVENT or a MONASTERY( seealsoCLEARINGHOUSE, IN-HOUSE restaurant 6 [C] )in compounds( a restaurant: a steakhouse * a coffee house * a bottle of house wine )= the cheapest wine available in a particular restaurant, not usually listed by name( seealsoFREEHOUSE, PUBLICHOUSE, ROADHOUSE, TIEDHOUSE parliament 7 [C] )often House( a group of people who meet to discuss and make the laws of a country: Legislation requires approval by both houses of parliament. seealsoLOWERHOUSE, UPPERHOUSE 8 )the House( [sing.] the House of Commons or the House of Lords in Britain; the House of Representatives in the US in debate 9 )the house( [sing.] a group of people discussing sth in a formal debate: I urge the house to vote against the motion. in theatre 10 [C] the part of a theatre where the audience sits; the audience at a particular performance: playing to a full / packed / empty house )= to a large / small audience( * The spotlight faded and the house lights came up. seealsoFRONT-OF-HOUSE, FULLHOUSE in school 11 [C] an organized group of students of different ages who may live in the same building and who compete against other groups in sports competitions, etc. family 12 [C] )usually the House of...( an old and famous family: the House of Windsor )= the British royal family( music 13 [U] = HOUSEMUSIC seealsoACIDHOUSE, ART-HOUSE, OPENHOUSE, POWERHOUSE, TREASUREHOUSE HELPNOTE There are many other compounds ending in house. You will find them at their place in the alphabet. IDIOMS bring the house down to make everyone laugh or CHEER, especially at a performance in the theatre get on like a house on fire )BrE( )AmE get along like a house on fire( )informal( )of people( to become friends quickly and have a very friendly relationship go all round the houses )BrE, informal( to do sth or ask a question in a very complicated way instead of in a simple, direct way: You did go all round the houses didn't you? Why not get straight to the point? in house if you work in house, you work in the offices of a company or an organization, not at home keep house to cook, clean and do all the other jobs around the house: She had given up her career to devote herself to the task of keeping house and raising a family. on the house drinks or meals that are on the house are provided free by the pub/bar or restaurant and you do not have to pay: Have a drink on the house. put / set your )own( house in order to organize your own business or improve your own behaviour before you try to criticize sb else set up house to make a place your home: They set up house together in a small flat in Brighton. moreatCLEANv., EAT, PEOPLEn., SAFEadj. verb [VN] provide home 1 to provide a place for sb to live: The government is committed to housing the refugees. keep sth 2 to be the place where sth is kept or where sth operates from: The gallery houses 2000 works of modern art. * The museum is housed in the Old Court House. * These offices also house a printing firm. * The books were housed in glass-fronted cases.