house
Word forms: houses , housing , housed pronunciation note: Pronounced (haʊs ) for the noun and adjective, and (haʊz ) for the verb. The form houses is pronounced (haʊzɪz ).
1. countable noun A1
A house is a building in which people live, usually the people belonging to one family.
She has moved to a smaller house.
...her parents' house in Warwickshire.
Synonyms: home, residence, dwelling [formal, literary], building
2. singular noun B1+
You can refer to all the people who live together in a house as the house.
If he set his alarm clock for midnight, it would wake the whole house.
Synonyms: household, family, ménage
3. countable noun [noun NOUN]
House is used in the names of types of places where people go to eat and drink.
...a steak house.
...an old Salzburg coffee house.
4. countable noun [noun NOUN]
House is used in the names of types of companies, especially ones which publish books, lend money, or design clothes.
Many of the clothes come from the world's top fashion houses.
Eventually she was fired from her job at a publishing house.
Synonyms: firm, company, business, concern
5. countable noun [noun NOUN]
House is sometimes used in the names of office buildings and large private homes or expensive houses. [mainly British]
I was to go to the very top floor of Bush House in Aldwych.
...Harewood House near Leeds.
6. countable noun
You can refer to the two main bodies of Britain's parliament and the United States of America's legislature as the House or a House.
Some members of the House and Senate worked all day yesterday.
The Republicans have majorities in both Houses.
7. singular noun [the/this N]
You can refer to all the people at a debate as the house. [British, formal]
The club is planning a public debate on 'This house believes that journalism has not gained from the introduction of new technology'.
8. countable noun
In a British school, a house is a group of children of different ages who compete against other groups in sports and other activities. Each house usually has a name.
He was a prefect and house captain.
9. countable noun
A house is a family which has been or will be important for many generations, especially the family of a king or queen.
...the Saudi Royal House.
...the House of Windsor. [+ of]
Synonyms: dynasty, line, race, tribe
10. countable noun
The house is the part of a theatre, cinema, or other place of entertainment where the audience sits. You can also refer to the audience at a particular performance as the house.
They played in front of a packed house.
Synonyms: audience, crowd, gathering, assembly
11. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A restaurant's house wine is the cheapest wine it sells, which is not listed by name on the wine list.
Tweed ordered a carafe of the house wine.
...a bottle of house red or white.
12. verb
To house someone means to provide a house or flat for them to live in.
Part III of the Housing Act 1985 imposes duties on local authorities to house homeless people. [VERB noun]
Regrettably we have to house families in these inadequate flats. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: accommodate, board, quarter, take in
13. verb [no cont]
A building or container that houses something is the place where it is located or from where it operates.
The château itself is open to the public and houses a museum of motorcycles and cars. [VERB noun]
Many years later, the temple erected in her name was used to house the Roman mint. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: contain, keep, hold, cover
14. verb [no cont]
If you say that a building houses a number of people, you mean that is the place where they live or where they are staying.
The building will house twelve boys and eight girls. [VERB noun]
Their villas housed army officers now. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: take, accommodate, sleep, provide shelter for
15. See also boarding house, chapter house, clearing house, council house, doll's house, full house, open house, opera house, public house, Wendy house, White House
16. to bring the house down phrase
If a person or their performance or speech brings the house down, the audience claps, laughs, or shouts loudly because the performance or speech is very impressive or amusing. [informal]
It's really an amazing dance. It just always brings the house down.
17. like a house on fire phrase
If two people get on like a house on fire, they quickly become close friends, for example because they have many interests in common. [informal]
18. to keep house phrase [VERB inflects, oft PHR for n]
If you keep house, you do the cleaning and cooking for your household, and do not go out to work.
He lives with an aunt who keeps house for him.
19. on the house phrase
If you are given something in a restaurant or bar on the house, you do not have to pay for it.
The owner knew about the engagement and brought them glasses of champagne on the house.
Synonyms: free, for free [informal], for nothing, free of charge
20. get/set one's house in order phrase
If someone gets their house in order, puts their house in order, or sets their house in order, they arrange their affairs and solve their problems.
He decided to get his financial house in order.
The challenge for American leadership is this: Can we put our economic house in order?
Before you lecture me, Mr Abbey, I suggest you set your house in order.
Vocabulary Builder
HOUSE: EXTERIOR roof chimney window aerial shutter gutter gate drainpipe gable front door garage driveway Quotations:
A house is a machine for living inVers une architecture
Idioms:
someone would not give someone or something house room [British]
said when someone strongly dislikes or disapproves of someone or something and wants to have nothing to do with them
I feel that some of the paintings that people pay thousands of pounds for are absolute rubbish. I wouldn't give them house room.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
put your house in order or get your house in order
to make sure that all your affairs are arranged properly and there is nothing wrong with them
The government gives the newspaper industry a twelve-month deadline to put its house in order or face tough statutory controls.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
a house of cards
a system, organization, or plan that is likely to fail or collapse
This government could fall apart like a house of cards during the first policy discussion.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
a halfway house [British]
a compromise between two things, or a combination of two things
A halfway house between the theatre and cinema is possible.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
get on like a house on fire
if two people get on like a house on fire, they quickly become close friends, for example because they have similar interests
I went over and struck up a conversation, and we got on like a house on fire.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
eat someone out of house and home
to eat so much food that it costs someone a lot of money to feed you
They eat everybody out of house and home but nobody minds because they provide such first-rate entertainment.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
bring the house down
if a person or their performance brings the house down, the audience claps and cheers loudly for a long time because they liked the performance so much
We had just one rehearsal and I was petrified but, as Lenny predicted, the sketch brought the house down.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collocations:
elegant house enter a house historic house house a museum house a prisoner house a restaurant house an inmate house furniture house interior house overlooks house purchase house residents house workers modest house nearby house packed house plantation house renovate a house rented house roof of a house run-down house sell a house spacious house suburban house surround a house three-bedroom house tidy house wooden house
But you sense that his spirit still haunts this elegant house.
Times, Sunday Times
She grew up in an elegant house and became interested in art and design.
Times, Sunday Times
The bride's gift from her father was an elegant house and lot...
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With the elegant houses and the chic little shops?
Times, Sunday Times
Elegant houses were constructed in and around a seaside boulevard.
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She was clearly informed before entering the house she faced eviction if she acted in an unacceptable manner.
The Sun (2008)
They entered the house by the front door; it lay straight on their line of march.
Wives and Daughters (1864)
Watching the celebs enter the house is like watching a cancer cell slowly divide and multiply.
The Sun (2013)
As they entered the house of worship, people were reminded of scriptural passages.
Christianity Today (2000)
Another historic house saved from years of darkness.
Times, Sunday Times
Modern family life demands a historic house kitchen.
Times,Sunday Times
A day out in a historic house gives you a perspective on life.
Times, Sunday Times
Fine historic house, offering good value for a buyer with experience of old buildings.
Times, Sunday Times
For four years, we spent our holidays and vacations in the historic house.
Times, Sunday Times
The new single storey building will house the museum as well as supplying conference space and a cinema.
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This building was remodeled both to house the museum and to conserve its original look.
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The conservatory leads to a second and third dome, which house a museum containing dioramas and exhibits of carefully preserved butterflies.
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In 2005, it cost an average of $23,876 a year to house a prisoner.
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The lessee was responsible for feeding, clothing, and housing the prisoners.
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Nearby are the ruins of one of the camps used to house the prisoners who built the road.
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The second floor housed the prisoners, while the first floor served as living quarters for the sheriff and his family, or for the deputies.
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The building would also house a restaurant for the first time in over sixty years.
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The first two stories will house the restaurant and the top story the hall of fame and the museum.
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Another multi-use building will house a restaurant, coffee shop, salon and fitness center on the first floor with 30 large studio apartments above.
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The outbuildings house a restaurant and a nature information centre.
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An old schoolhouse houses the restaurant, bistro and bar.
Times, Sunday Times
Four units of 256 cells house the inmate population.
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Officials are also searching for a prison ship to house inmates.
The Sun
Prisoners displaying symptoms of the virus will be isolated in their cells but if numbers increase rapidly whole landings or wings will be used to house inmates in isolation.
Times,Sunday Times
The city jail, built in 1862, housed inmates until five years ago.
Houston Chronicle
But, the publicly run prison offered more services that suggest a larger commitment beyond guarding and housing inmates.
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Miniaturists are experts in making doll's house furniture.
Times, Sunday Times
I felt too big sitting on the tiny doll's house furniture.
Times, Sunday Times
We've gone for dolls house furniture, even more books and the things she will love the most.
The Sun
House furniture consisted of low couches, carpets and mattresses.
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She owned her first business at the age of 12, making doll's house furniture.
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A weakly secured veneer in a house interior (sometimes used to face a fireplace from floor to ceiling) can be especially dangerous to occupants.
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The house interior has a partition system so that the day room and the dining room could become one room, for entertaining large parties.
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The 8x10 inch photos show not only the house interior, room by room, but also the exterior and surrounding neighborhood.
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The house interior was rebuilt for the second season.
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Intake air comes directly from outside, instead of from the house interior.
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A witness, whose house overlooks the scene, said he had been woken by 'a crash, bang, wallop' and rushed to his window.
Times, Sunday Times
The trees have been ripped out and every window at the back of my house overlooks a building site.
Times, Sunday Times
The back of the house overlooks the lake they dug last summer where next year they will swim from the jetty.
Times,Sunday Times
The house overlooks a beautiful lake.
Times, Sunday Times
The house overlooks the garden and lawn, and cloisters flank it to the right.
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The uptake of council house purchase does not reflect the working out of a detached attitude to home ownership.
Home-ownership - differentiation and fragmentation (1990)
A house purchase used to rely predominantly on one income.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A good proxy for mortgage lending is the number of mortgage approvals for house purchase.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Results also demonstrate that communities with several trees and other natural areas tend to be stronger, safer and house residents with a higher attention level.
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As a result, the other boarding house residents start to warm to the newcomer.
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In 1987, the house residents successfully petitioned to change the house name to its current one.
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Finally, another of the house residents, still bound, managed to get outside and cry for help.
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House residents create their house identities.
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There are still some owners who house workers on their estates.
Times, Sunday Times
Built to house workers in the nuclear plant which went into meltdown in 1986, it's still abandoned and even has a very ghostly ferris wheel.
The Sun
The high brick-andflint barn, originally built to house workers, has smart rooms ranging from small doubles to family rooms.
Times, Sunday Times
It was originally built to house workers at a nearby silk dyeing mill.
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It largely consists of social housing built in the 1950s and 1960s, originally intended to house workers from the nearby car factory.
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The door of the modest house was wide open.
Times, Sunday Times
He has a relatively modest house not far from his office.
Times, Sunday Times
Unassuming and approachable, he lived in a modest house, married to his high school sweetheart.
Times, Sunday Times
Working for a modest house and modest savings over your life should be rewarded, not penalised.
The Sun
It said that the modest house echoed 'the subject matter of his work'.
Times, Sunday Times
She eventually pushed him off and ran to a nearby house where she called cops.
The Sun
The three suspects, aged 30, 27 and 19, were later arrested at a nearby house.
The Sun
They found the drained swimming pool to the side of the nearby house.
Times, Sunday Times
He called at a nearby house for help but the owner hit her panic button, alerting cops.
The Sun
On her first night back, a nearby house burns down — another 'summer' place.
Times, Sunday Times
The play toured to packed houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Which is why they pulled themselves together after a poor first half to deliver another three points to a packed house.
The Sun (2008)
He praised Liverpool's ' fantastic orchestra', to the evident delight of the audience, a packed house already on its feet for a heartfelt ovation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
By then he was in sight of the colonnaded plantation house that had been in his wife's family for generations.
YELLOW BIRD
My grandmother moved to Barbados in the 1940s and bought a large plantation house.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A fine old plantation house with an organic farm and a reputation for its eco credentials.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The moon in your home zone revives an idea for family and friends to renovate a house together.
The Sun
Find an all-consuming joint project:renovate a house or start a business.
Times, Sunday Times
How can we swiftly and cost-effectively renovate the house?
Times, Sunday Times
We extended it quite significantly about two years ago to renovate the house.
Times, Sunday Times
But if you completely renovate a house, you have to choose and pay for every feature - together.
Times, Sunday Times
Our rented house sat in spearmint-scented pine groves with extraordinary views of the mountains.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There was little to arouse suspicion about the group of conspirators who converged on a rented house in Reykjavik on a blustery day three months ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
COULD graffiti scrawled in a rented house in the 1970s be as important as prehistoric cave paintings?
The Sun (2011)
The masks were reportedly found as cops searched the rented house after the raid.
The Sun (2015)
He never complained, just worked and joked; sanguine even when a doodlebug sliced off the roof of his house.
Times, Sunday Times
Snow slid off the roof of the house and buried him completely.
Times, Sunday Times
And that as a result, you must insulate the roof of your house.
The Sun
Obviously, nothing can stick up through the roof of the house below - so no chimneys, television aerials or even gutters.
Times, Sunday Times
It flew out of the ground, over some trees and knocked the tiles off the roof of a house.
Times, Sunday Times
Despite the sales, he drives an old car and lives in a run-down house.
Times, Sunday Times
A run-down house in a village can be bought for less than 30,000.
Times, Sunday Times
For months, starting in 2009, he would leave his family in the evenings and disappear into the basement of a run-down house he had acquired in the suburbs.
Times, Sunday Times
We also took on a run-down house.
The Sun
It was in this ramshackle and run-down house that they found an illegal way of borrowing electricity from the house next door.
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This is partly because she is not a world-class snorkeller, and partly because it would mean selling the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If a house is sold, the loan will transfer with the deeds.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
One option could be to defer payment until the owner dies and the house is sold.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They can evict the tenant if rent is unpaid, for antisocial behaviour or if they want to sell the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was a big gamble selling the house to send me to an academy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was a spacious house with three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom.
Times, Sunday Times
The family lived comfortably in a spacious house.
Times,Sunday Times
The spacious house includes a glassed-in sunroom, while the five bedrooms all have bathrooms.
The Sun
The story depends on a sprawling family, a spacious house, intellectual seclusion and middle-aged chastity.
Times,Sunday Times
If you give someone the choice of a spacious house or a house with lots of rooms, nine times out of 10 people will go for space.
Times, Sunday Times
Back in the shabby little suburban house in Carrollton Gardens, she could have spoken, but then she had remained silent.
LOST BOY LOST GIRL (2004)
There will be a business district, neat rows of suburban housing and a more rural neighbourhood.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Surveys made it overwhelmingly clear that most people wanted to live in a suburban house with a garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They were lured to a suburban house - where teams of detectives were lying in wait.
The Sun (2007)
Once you breed, you are expected to find a suburban house with a garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But beneath the flowerbeds that surround this house of sickness, other bodies rest uneasily.
Times, Sunday Times
They've learnt their lesson since then, and the five acres of formal gardens that surround the house have developed to look as if they have been here for ever.
Times, Sunday Times
There are external and internal staircases that surround the house.
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People often surround their house and garden with a hedge.
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The police arrive quickly and surround the house.
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The head teacher's job comes with an 8,000 relocation allowance and three-bedroom house.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The suburban three-bedroom house has become the point at which upsizing families meet downsizing migrants from the city centre.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A three-bedroom house with two bathrooms and outbuildings including a barn used as a garage and an old cattle shed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I come home to a tidy house and relax, with no one screaming for my attention.
The Sun
I miss being able to have a coffee break and a tidy house, and do get burnt out.
The Sun
In fact, they relish the tidy house, full fridge and return to calm.
Times, Sunday Times
She fought to stave off illness by keeping a tidy house and ensuring her brood washed daily and ate well.
The Sun
He has a tidy house himself but admits he can't compete with my cleanliness.
The Sun
The wooden house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms was put up for sale last year.
Times, Sunday Times
Space constraints on the original set — built in 1960 — meant the wooden house fronts were built to three-quarters scale.
The Sun
In 1711, the wooden house was replaced with a stone one.
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After lunch there may be bits of maintenance to do on their largely wooden house or in the extensive garden which has a wildflower meadow.
Times,Sunday Times
You can imagine a little wooden house right next to the sea and the river, and all the little sailing boats going by.
Times, Sunday Times
Translations:
Chinese: 房屋
Japanese: 家
- disease linked to
- disease management
- disease of poverty
- disease progresses
- disease resistance
- disease risk
- disease severity
- disease spreads
- disease surveillance
- disease vector
- disease worsens
- disembark
- disembarkation
- disembodied
- disembodied head
- disembodied voice
- disembowel
- disempower
- disempowering
- disenchanted
- disenchanted voter
- disenchantment
- disenfranchise
- disengage
- disengaged