house

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/haʊs/
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A place to live, with wider uses for groups and activities linked to a shared place.
Practice using house in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • We bought a small house near the school.
  • She invited us to her house for dinner.
  • Is your house far from here?
  • Four houses competed on sports day.
  • He works for a fashion house in Paris.

Similar words

chamber
company
accommodate
firm
shelter
contain
team
audience
residence
dwelling

Meanings

Place to live

noun
housing
neutral
A building where people live, usually with one family or household.

Examples

  • Their house has a red door.
  • We bought a small house near the school.
  • Is your house far from here?
  • Three houses stand at the end of the road.
  • She invited us to her house for dinner.

Similar words

home
dwelling
residence

People at home

noun
family
neutral
All the people who live together in one home.

Examples

  • Please be quiet; the whole house is asleep.
  • Her laughter woke the house.
  • By breakfast, everyone in the house knew the news.
  • The house was still awake when he arrived.
  • A shout brought the entire house downstairs.

Similar words

household
family

Company or institution

noun
business
neutral
A company or other organization known for a particular kind of work.

Examples

  • The publishing house accepted her first book.
  • He works for a fashion house in Paris.
  • A small house produced the film.
  • The auction house sold the painting.
  • The house has released three new titles this month.

Similar words

firm
company

Law-making chamber

noun
government
neutral
One of the groups of lawmakers that make up a parliament.

Examples

  • The bill passed in the lower house.
  • Both houses must approve the new law.
  • Members of the upper house debated the plan.
  • The house voted against the proposal.
  • Her party won seats in the house.

Similar words

chamber

Theatre audience or seating

noun
theatre
neutral
The people watching a performance, or the area where they sit.

Examples

  • The actor looked out at a full house.
  • The house applauded when the play ended.
  • Only half the house was filled on Tuesday.
  • The house lights came on after the concert.
  • Her first song brought the house to its feet.

Similar words

audience

School team

noun
education
neutral
In some British schools, a group of pupils who compete as a team.

Examples

  • Our house won the school race.
  • Each pupil joins a house in September.
  • Four houses competed on sports day.
  • She earned points for her house.
  • The red house cheered for its runners.

Similar words

team

Dance music style

noun
music
neutral
Electronic dance music built around a steady, repeated beat.

Examples

  • The DJ played house until midnight.
  • She first heard house at a club.
  • This track mixes house with pop.
  • The festival has a stage for house.
  • He collects old house records.

Similar words

house music

Provide space

verb
housing
neutral
To give people a place to live or to keep things in a place.

Examples

  • The city houses families in the new building.
  • The museum houses a large collection of maps.
  • Five students are housed in each flat.
  • This box houses the machine's small motor.
  • The shelter housed twenty people last night.

Similar words

accommodate
shelter
contain

Etymology

The home word comes from Old English hūs, a dwelling or shelter, and the verb from hūsian. The name of the music probably refers to the Warehouse nightclub in Chicago.

FAQ

What does house mean most often?

It usually means a building where people live.

How is a house different from a home?

A house names the building; home is the place someone lives and feels they belong.

Can house refer to people?

Yes. The whole house can mean everyone who lives there.

What does it mean to house someone?

It means to provide that person with a place to live or stay.

Is the verb house pronounced like the noun?

No. The noun is /haʊs/, while the verb is /haʊz/.

What is a house in parliament?

It is a group of lawmakers, such as an upper or lower chamber.

What is house music?

It is electronic dance music with a steady, repeated beat.

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