furloughfur‧lough /ˈfɜːləʊ $ ˈfɜːrloʊ/ noun [countable, uncountable] 
a young soldier home on furlough2American English a period of time when workers are told not to work, especially because there is not enough money to pay them: workers forced to take a long, unpaid furlough3American English a short period of time during which a prisoner is allowed to leave prison before returning: Morton stabbed the man while on furlough.—furlough verb [transitive] American English: 280,000 federal workers have been furloughed.
WORD ORIGINfurlough
Origin:
1600-1700 Dutch verlof ‘permission’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The mayor has ordered a four-day furlough for 26,000 city employees.
- After this last furlough we paid a last sad visit to the school and found a small girl crying her heart out.
- Although it was her first furlough she was using it to study for her Master's Degree at Sidney University.
- During the last year before her furlough one hundred and seventeen new soldiers had been sworn in at the Howard corps.
- If they did not return, their regiment could have no more furloughs.
- On my first furlough I sought her out, and attended her course of lectures.
- The men on furlough returned with bright faces.
THESAURUS
especially American English, holiday especially British English time you spend away from school or work: · Are you taking a vacation this summer?· We met on holiday in Cyprus.· What are you doing in the school holidays?
a day that is set by law, when no one has to go to work or school: · the Thanksgiving holiday· New Year’s Day is a national holiday.· In 2002, there was an extra public holiday to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee.· the August bank holiday (=day when all the banks and shops are closed – used in British English)
a time when you stop working or studying in order to rest, or a short vacation from school: · a ten-minute coffee break· Lots of college kids come to the beaches during the spring break.
a time when you are allowed not to work: · We get four weeks’ annual leave (=paid time off work each year).· He has been taking a lot of sick leave (=time off work because you are ill) recently.· Angela is on maternity leave (=time off work when having a baby).· He was given compassionate leave (=time off work because someone close to you has died, is very ill etc) to go to his father’s funeral.
[usually singular] a period when someone, especially a teacher, stops doing their usual work in order to study or travel: · She was on sabbatical for six months.· I’m thinking of taking a sabbatical.
a period of time when a soldier or someone working in another country can return to their own country as a holiday: · While on furlough, he and his girlfriend got married.
(rest and relaxation) a holiday, especially one given to people in the army, navy etc after a long period of hard work or during a war: · Soldiers in Vietnam were taken to Hawaii for R & R.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a young soldier home on furlough Morton stabbed the man while on furlough.
1a period of time when a soldier or someone working in another country can return to their own country SYN leave: a young soldier home on furlough Morton stabbed the man while on furlough. a young soldier home on furlough2American English a period of time when workers are told not to work, especially because there is not enough money to pay them: workers forced to take a long, unpaid furlough3American English a short period of time during which a prisoner is allowed to leave prison before returning: Morton stabbed the man while on furlough.—furlough verb [transitive] American English: 280,000 federal workers have been furloughed.