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house
/haʊs/
building for living
They bought a small house in the countryside.
A reference to a physical structure where people live.
neutral
A building for human habitation, typically one that is lived in by a family or small group of people.
The house has three bedrooms and a garden.
A description of the physical structure.
Can refer to a single-family home or a multi-unit building (e.g., apartment house).
neutral
A building used for a specific purpose, such as a public institution or business.
The opera house is famous for its architecture.
A building designated for performances.
Often used in compound nouns (e.g., greenhouse, courthouse).
neutral
To provide someone with shelter or accommodation.
The charity houses homeless families.
To offer a place to live.
Commonly used in passive constructions.
Law
formal
A legislative or deliberative assembly (e.g., the House of Representatives).
The House passed the bill unanimously.
A reference to a legislative body.
Capitalized when referring to a specific legislative body (e.g., the House).
Collocations
house partya social gathering held at someone's homehouse musica genre of electronic dance musichousewarminga party to celebrate moving into a new home
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish 'house' and 'home'
'House' refers to the physical building, while 'home' emphasizes the emotional attachment or family living there. For example, 'I live in a house' vs. 'I feel at home here'.
Gold Rule
Capitalization in formal contexts
Capitalize 'House' when referring to a specific legislative body (e.g., the House of Representatives).
Word Origin
Old English 'hūs', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'huis' and German 'Haus'.
Usage Notes
The word 'house' can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a physical structure, while as a verb, it means to provide shelter. The plural form is 'houses'.
Word Breakdown
house
the whole word
rootEnglish Dictionary