ˈɔfɪs n. 1 a
room or
building used as a
place of
business,
esp.
for clerical or
administrative work. 2 a room or
department or building for a
particular kind of business (ticket office; post office). 3
the local centre of a
large business (our London office). 4 US the consulting-room of a
professional person. 5 a
position with duties attached to
it; a place of
authority or
trust or service, esp. of a
public nature. 6
tenure of an
official position, esp.
that of a
minister of
State or of the party forming the
Government (hold office;
out of office for 13 years). 7 (Office) the quarters or staff or
collective authority of a Government department etc. (Foreign Office). 8 a
duty attaching to one's position; a
task or
function. 9 (usu. in pl.) a
piece of
kindness or
attention; a service (esp.
through the
good offices of). 10 Eccl. a an authorized
form of
worship (Office for the Dead). b (in full
divine office) the
daily service of the
Roman Catholic breviary (say the office). 11 a
ceremonial duty. 12 (in pl.)
Brit. the parts of a
house devoted to
household work,
storage, etc. 13 sl. a
hint or signal. øthe last offices rites
due to the
dead. office-bearer an official or
officer. office
block a large building designed to
contain business offices. office
boy (or girl) a
young man (or woman) employed to do
minor jobs in a business office. office hours the hours
during which business is
normally conducted. office of arms the
College of Arms, or a
similar body in
another country. office-worker an
employee in a business office. [ME f. OF f. L officium
performance of a task (in med.L
also office, divine service), f.
opus work + facere ficdo]
