a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
"he has a house on Cape Cod"
"she felt she had to get out of the house"
the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments
"he worked for a brokerage house"
the members of a religious community living together
"The ancient monastery, which functions as a house where monks live in strict silence and poverty, remains untouched by modern tourism."
the audience gathered together in a theatre or cinema
"the house applauded"
"he counted the house"
play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults
"the children were playing house"
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
"In her astrological chart, she discovered that Mars was positioned in the house of ambition."
A structure built or serving as an abode of human beings.
"The DJ turned up the bass to play some house music at the weekend festival."
House music.
In plain English: A house is a building where people live with their families and belongings inside it.
"They decided to sell their old house before moving into an apartment."
Usage: Use the noun house to refer specifically to residential buildings, distinguishing it from commercial structures like shops or offices. As a verb, use to house when describing how people are accommodated in shelters rather than placing objects inside containers.
provide housing for
"The immigrants were housed in a new development outside the town"
To keep within a structure or container.
"Please house all your tools in the garage after you finish working on them."
In plain English: To house something means to put it inside a building for storage or living space.
"We decided to house our new guests in the spare room at the back of the building."
The House of Representatives.
"The new bill was introduced in the House last week and is now heading to a committee review."
The word "house" comes from the Old English hūs, meaning dwelling or shelter. It likely traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root related to covering or hiding.