office

Universal Words noun room / building 1 [C] a room, set of rooms or building where people work, usually sitting at desks: The company is moving to new offices on the other side of town. * Are you going to the office today? * We ought to inform head office. * an office job * office workers 2 [C] a room in which a particular person works, usually at a desk: Some people have to share an office. * Come into my office. 3 (AmE) = SURGERY: a doctor's / dentist's office 4 [C] (often in compounds) a room or building used for a particular purpose, especially to provide information or a service: the local tourist office * a ticket office seealsoBOXOFFICE, REGISTRYOFFICE government department 5 (Office) [C] used in the names of some British government departments: the Foreign Office * the Home Office * the Office of Fair Trading important position 6 [U,C] an important position of authority, especially in government; the work and duties connected with this: She held office as a cabinet minister for ten years. * How long has he been in office? * The party has been out of office (= has not formed a government) for many years. * The present government took office in 1997. * to seek / run for office * (BrE) to stand for office * the office of treasurer IDIOMS through sb's good offices (formal) with sb's help