Holmes

American  

[hohmz, hohlmz] / hoʊmz, hoʊlmz /

noun

1. John Haynes 1879–1964, U.S. clergyman.

2. Oliver Wendell 1809–94, U.S. poet, novelist, essayist, and physician.

3. his son Oliver Wendell, 1841–1935, U.S. jurist: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1902–32.

4. Sherlock, a detective in many mystery stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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Holmes British  

/ həʊmz /

noun

1. Oliver Wendell. 1809–94, US author, esp of humorous essays, such as The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table (1858) and its sequels

2. his son, Oliver Wendell. 1841–1935, US jurist, noted for his liberal judgments

3. Sir Paul .1950–2013, New Zealand radio and television broadcaster; presenter of The Paul Holmes Breakfast , (1987–2008)

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Holmes Scientific  

/ hōmz,hōlmz /

1. British geologist who pioneered a method of determining the age of rocks by measuring their radioactive components. He was also an early supporter of Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift.

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Example Sentences

Will we ever tire of reimagining Sherlock Holmes?

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, walked out of his office empty-handed.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

“Everybody’s all in for fairness,” Mets pitcher Clay Holmes said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

"He's probably looking a little smarter than the original Roo might, which would obviously have been 100 years old," said Holmes, who added he was made from traditional mohair.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

No one ever left flowers here for Holmes, but as it happens, he was not entirely forgotten.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson