1. n. A structure built or serving as an abode of human beings.
This is my house and my family's ancestral home.
2. n. The people who live in a house; a household.
3. n. A building used for something other than a residence (typically with qualifying word).
The former carriage house had been made over into a guest house.
On arriving at the zoo, we immediately headed for the monkey house.
4. n. A place of business; a company or organisation, especially a printing press, a publishing company, or a couturier.
A small publishing house would have a contract with an independent fulfillment house.
5. n. A place of public accommodation or entertainment, especially a public house, an inn, a restaurant, a theatre, or a casino; or the management thereof.
One more, sir, then I'll have to stop serving you – rules of the house, I'm afraid.
The house always wins.
6. n. The audience for a live theatrical or similar performance.
After her swan-song, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
7. n. (politics) A building where a deliberative assembly meets; whence the assembly itself, particularly a component of a legislature.
The petition was so ridiculous that the house rejected it after minimal debate.
8. n. A dynasty; a family with its ancestors and descendants, especially a royal or noble one.
A curse lay upon the House of Atreus.
9. n. (metaphorical) a place of rest or repose.
10. n. A grouping of schoolchildren for the purposes of competition in sports and other activities.
I was a member of Spenser house when I was at school.
11. n. An animal's shelter or den, or the shell of an animal such as a snail, used for protection.
12. n. (astrology) One of the twelve divisions of an astrological chart.
13. n. (cartomancy) The fourth Lenormand card.
14. n. (chess, now rare) A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.
15. n. (curling) The four concentric circles where points are scored on the ice.
16. n. Lotto; bingo.
17. n. A children's game in which the players pretend to be members of a household.
As the babysitter, Emma always acted as the mother whenever the kids demanded to play house.
18. n. (US, dialect) A small stand of trees in a swamp.
19. v. To keep within a structure or container.
The car is housed in the garage.
20. v. To admit to residence; to harbor/harbour.
21. v. To take shelter or lodging; to abide; to lodge.
22. v. (transitive, astrology) To dwell within one of the twelve astrological houses.
23. v. To contain or cover mechanical parts.
24. v. (obsolete) To drive to a shelter.
25. v. (obsolete) To deposit and cover, as in the grave.
26. v. (nautical) To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe.
2. n. The private room of an individual, especially of someone wealthy or noble.
3. n. A bedroom.
4. n. The private office of a judge.
5. n. The room used for deliberation by a legislature.
6. n. (UK) A single law office in a building housing several.
7. n. (dated) Rooms in a lodging house.
8. n. (obsolete) (clipping of chamber pot): a container used for urination and defecation in one's chambers.
9. n. (figuratively) The legislature or division of the legislature itself.
The resolution, which speedily passed the Senate, was unable to gain a majority in the lower chamber.
10. n. Any enclosed space occupying or similar to a room.
A canal lock chamber; a furnace chamber; a test chamber
11. n. (firearms) The area holding the ammunition round at the initiation of its discharge.
Dianne loaded a cartridge into the chamber of the rifle, then prepared to take aim at the target.
12. n. (firearms) One of the bullet-holding compartments in the cylinder of a revolver.
13. n. (historical) A short piece of ordnance or cannon which stood on its breech without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for celebrations and theatrical cannonades.
14. v. To enclose in a room.
She had chambered herself in her room, and wouldn't come out.
15. v. To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers.
16. v. To place in a chamber, as a round of ammunition.
The hunter fired at the geese and missed, then shrugged his shoulders and chambered another cartridge.
17. v. To create or modify a gun to be a specific caliber.
The rifle was originally chambered for 9mm, but had since been modified for a larger, wildcat caliber.
18. v. In martial arts, to prepare an offensive, defensive, or counteroffensive action by drawing a limb or weapon to a position where it may be charged with kinetic energy.
Bob chambered his fist for a blow, but Sheila struck first.
