office
office
(ôʹfĭs, ŏfʹĭs) noun
Abbr. off.
1.
a. A place in which business, clerical, or professional activities are conducted. b. The administrative personnel, executives, or staff working in such a place.
2. A duty or function assigned to or assumed by someone. See synonyms at function.
3. A position of authority, duty, or trust given to a person, as in a government or corporation: the office of vice president.
4. a. A subdivision of a governmental department: the U.S. Patent Office. b. A major executive division of a government: the British Home Office.
5. A public position: seek office.
6. offices Chiefly British. The parts of a house, such as the laundry and kitchen, in which servants carry out household work.
7. Often offices A usually beneficial act performed for another.
8. Ecclesiastical. A ceremony, rite, or service, usually prescribed by liturgy, especially: a. The canonical hours. b. A prayer service in the Anglican Church, such as Morning or Evening Prayer. c. A ceremony, rite, or service for a special purpose, especially a rite for the dead.
noun
, attributive.
Often used to modify another noun: office furniture; office buildings.
[Middle English, from Old French, duty, from Latin officium.]