holiday

¹

[hol-i-dey]

noun

1. a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.

2. any day of exemption from work (working day ).

   Synonyms: break, vacation

3. a time or period of exemption from any requirement, duty, assessment, etc..

   New businesses may be granted a one-year tax holiday.

4. a religious feast day; holy day, especially any of several usually commemorative holy days observed in Judaism.

5. Chiefly British.,  Sometimes holidays. a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.

6. an unintentional gap left on a plated, coated, or painted surface.

adjective

1. of or relating to a festival; festive; joyous.

   a holiday mood.

2. suitable for a holiday.

   holiday attire.

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly British.,  to vacation.

   to holiday at the seaside.

Holiday

²

[hol-i-dey]

noun

1. Billie Lady Day, 1915–59, U.S. jazz singer.

holiday

¹

/ -dɪ, ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. (often plural)

   1. US and Canadian word: vacation. a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation

   2. ( as modifier )

      a holiday mood

2. a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank holiday, etc

verb

1. (intr) to spend a holiday

Holiday

²

/ ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. Billie. real name Eleanora Fagan; known as Lady Day. 1915–59, US jazz singer

Other Word Forms

• preholiday adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of holiday¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English hāligdæg; equivalent to holy + day

Word History and Origins

Origin of holiday¹

Old English hāligdæg, literally: holy day

Idioms and Phrases

see busman's holiday.

Example Sentences

It’s like cooking for a holiday, only with fewer relatives and more music.

From Salon

Around each twist and turn, there’s a room solely for holiday wear, a walk-in devoted to fur coats, and several hallways lined with laundry baskets of purses and dress shoes waiting to be picked through.

From Los Angeles Times

And while on holiday in Australia after Mr Jo's death, Ms Lee allegedly told a friend that she wished the plane had crashed so she and her children could have died together.

From BBC

"I'm angry. My son can't get a house, but they're housing these first. It's not right, this is our country," says Mandy, as she stares at the Holiday Inn on the edge of Warrington that is now being used as an asylum hotel.

From BBC

"I've booked a skiing holiday for January, which is something I've never done before. I'm doing everything I've put off for the last 20 years."

From BBC

Related Words

• anniversary 
• break 
• celebration 
• feast 
• festival 
• festivity 
• gala 
• layoff 
• recess 
• vacation