Host
noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Definitions
- 1 One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
"A good host is always considerate of the guest’s needs."
- 2 A multitude of people arrayed as an army; used also in religious senses, as: Heavenly host (of angels)
"Why, Plugson, even thy own host is all in mutiny: Cotton is conquered; but the ‘bare backs’ — are worse covered than ever!"
- 3 The consecrated bread of the Eucharist.
"Do you pray to the Holy Ghost when you suck your host? / Do you read who's dead in the Irish Post?"
- 4 an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; it does not benefit and is often harmed by the association wordnet
- 5 One that provides a facility for an event.
Show 17 more definitions
- 6 A large number of items; a large inventory.
"The dealer stocks a host of parts for my Model A."
- 7 (computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network wordnet
- 8 A person or organization responsible for running an event.
"Our company is host of the annual conference this year."
- 9 a technical name for the bread used in the service of Mass or Holy Communion wordnet
- 10 A moderator or master of ceremonies for a performance.
"The host was terrible, but the acts themselves were good."
- 11 a vast multitude wordnet
- 12 The primary member of a system, typically the member who fronts most often.
- 13 archaic terms for army wordnet
- 14 Any computer attached to a network. Internet
- 15 any organization that provides resources and facilities for a function or event wordnet
- 16 A cell or organism which harbors another organism or biological entity, usually a parasite.
"Viruses depend on the host that they infect in order to be able to reproduce."
- 17 the owner or manager of an inn wordnet
- 18 An organism bearing certain genetic material, with respect to its cells.
"The so-called junk DNA is known, so far, to provide no apparent benefit to its host."
- 19 a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there wordnet
- 20 A paid male companion offering conversation and in some cases sex, as in certain types of bar in Japan.
- 21 (medicine) recipient of transplanted tissue or organ from a donor wordnet
- 22 a person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers) wordnet
- 1 To perform the role of a host.
"Our company will host the annual conference this year."
- 2 be the host of or for wordnet
- 3 To lodge at an inn. intransitive, obsolete
"Where you shall host."
- 4 To run software made available to a remote user or process. Internet
"Kremvax hosts a variety of services."
Example
More examples"My host family often advises me."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstis Proto-Indo-European *pótis Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstipotis Proto-Italic *hostipotis Latin hospes Old French ostebor. Middle English hoste English host From Middle English hoste, from Old French oste (French: hôte), from Latin hospitem, accusative of hospes (“a host, also a sojourner, visitor, guest; hence, a foreigner, a stranger”), from *hostipotis, an old compound of hostis and the root of potis, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstipotis (“master of guests”), from *gʰóstis (“stranger, guest, enemy”) and *pótis (“owner, master, host, husband”). Used in English since 13th century.
From Middle English oost, borrowed from Old French ost, oste, hoste, from Latin hostis (“foreign enemy”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstis (as opposed to inimicus (“personal enemy”)). Doublet of guest.
From Middle English host, oist, ost, from Old French hoiste, from Latin hostia (“sacrificial victim”). Doublet of hostie.