office

[aw-fis, of-is] /ˈɔ fɪs, ˈɒf ɪs/
noun
1.
a room, set of rooms, or building where the business of a commercial or industrial organization or of a professional person is conducted:
the main office of an insurance company; a doctor's office.
2.
a room assigned to a specific person or a group of persons in a commercial or industrial organization:
Her office is next to mine.
3.
a business or professional organization:
He went to work in an architect's office.
4.
the staff or designated part of a staff at a commercial or industrial organization:
The whole office was at his wedding.
5.
a position of duty, trust, or authority, especially in the government, a corporation, a society, or the like:
She was elected twice to the office of president.
6.
employment or position as an official:
to seek office.
7.
the duty, function, or part of a particular person or agency:
to act in the office of adviser.
8.
(initial capital letter) an operating agency or division of certain departments of the U.S. Government:
Office of Community Services.
9.
(initial capital letter) British. a major administrative unit or department of the national government:
the Foreign Office.
10.
Slang. hint, signal, or warning; high sign.
11.
Often, offices. something, whether good or bad, done or said for or to another:
He obtained a position through the offices of a friend.
12.
Ecclesiastical.
  1. the prescribed order or form for a service of the church or for devotional use.
  2. the services so prescribed.
  3. Also called divine office. the prayers, readings from Scripture, and psalms that must be recited every day by all who are in major orders.
  4. a ceremony or rite, especially for the dead.
13.
a service or task to be performed; assignment; chore:
little domestic offices.
14.
offices, Chiefly British.
  1. the parts of a house, as the kitchen, pantry, or laundry, devoted mainly to household work.
  2. the stables, barns, cowhouses, etc., of a farm.
15.
Older Slang. privy.
Origin
1200-50; Middle English < Old French < Latin officium service, duty, ceremony, presumably contraction of opificium, equivalent to opi-, combining form akin to opus opus + -fic-, combining form of facere to make, do1 + -ium -ium
Related forms
officeless, adjective
outoffice, noun
suboffice, noun
Can be confused
office, orifice.
Synonyms
5. post, station, berth, situation. See appointment. 7. responsibility, charge, trust. 13. work, duty.
Examples from the web for office
  • More and more multinationals will shift the operation and control of key business functions away from their head office.
  • Elevator installation is a mature business, yet change is under way as office space and energy get pricey.
  • The office hour requirement has been in place many years.
  • News about office buildings and commercial properties.
  • office work, filled with overflowing e-mail inboxes and pointless meetings, could be a lot more efficient and productive.
  • Picture a college student appealing for a higher grade in his professor's office.
  • Yill is a giant, rolling battery that will let you run an office wherever you might be.
  • From takeout food to office parties, plastic utensils are everywhere.
  • Empirically supported therapies seek to bring the power of research-proven techniques to the therapist's office.
  • Each high-quality poster is gorgeous and is sure to be a welcome addition to any room or office.
British Dictionary definitions for office

office

/ˈɒfɪs/
noun
1.
  1. a room or set of rooms in which business, professional duties, clerical work, etc, are carried out
  2. (as modifier): office furniture, an office boy
2.
(often pl) the building or buildings in which the work of an organization, such as a business or government department, is carried out
3.
a commercial or professional business: the architect's office approved the plans
4.
the group of persons working in an office: it was a happy office until she came
5.
(capital when part of a name) (in Britain) a department of the national government: the Home Office
6.
(capital when part of a name) (in the US)
  1. a governmental agency, esp of the Federal government
  2. a subdivision of such an agency or of a department: Office of Science and Technology
7.
  1. a position of trust, responsibility, or duty, esp in a government or organization: the office of president, to seek office
  2. (in combination): an office-holder
8.
duty or function: the office of an administrator
9.
(often pl) a minor task or service: domestic offices
10.
(often pl) an action performed for another, usually a beneficial action: through his good offices
11.
a place where tickets, information, etc, can be obtained: a ticket office
12.
(Christianity)
  1. (often pl) a ceremony or service, prescribed by ecclesiastical authorities, esp one for the dead
  2. the order or form of these
  3. (RC Church) the official daily service
  4. short for divine office
13.
(pl) the parts of a house or estate where work is done, goods are stored, etc
14.
(usually pl) (Brit, euphemistic) a lavatory (esp in the phrase usual offices)
15.
in office, (of a government) in power
16.
out of office, (of a government) out of power
17.
(slang) the office, a hint or signal
Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin officium service, duty, from opus work, service + facere to do
Word Origin and History for office
n.

mid-13c., "a post, an employment to which certain duties are attached," from Anglo-French and Old French ofice "place or function; divine service" (12c. in Old French) or directly from Latin officium "service, kindness, favor; official duty, function, business; ceremonial observance," (in Ecclesiastical Latin, "church service"), literally "work-doing," from ops (genitive opis) "power, might, abundance, means" (related to opus "work;" see opus) + stem of facere "do, perform" (see factitious). Meaning "place for conducting business" first recorded 1560s. Office hours attested from 1841.

Slang definitions & phrases for office

office

noun

The cockpit of an airplane (1917+ Aviators)

Related Terms

front office


office in Technology


Microsoft Office

Idioms and Phrases with office

office

see: