harem
the part of a Muslim palace or house reserved for the residence of women.
the women in a Muslim household, including the mother, sisters, wives, concubines, daughters, entertainers, and servants.
Animal Behavior. a social group of females, as elephant seals, accompanied or followed by one fertile male who denies other males access to the group.
Facetious: Sometimes Offensive. a group of women associated in any way with one man or household: I really resent it when our boss refers to us as his harem, though he's trying to be funny.
Origin of harem
1- Sometimes ha·ram, ha·rim; ha·reem [huh-reem] /həˈrim/ .
usage note For harem
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use harem in a sentence
"By the beard of the Prophet—he was in my Harim," muttered the Effendi.
The Secret Witness | George GibbsShe rose quietly and tried the door of the dutap into the corridor which led to the Harim.
The Secret Witness | George GibbsAnd so Marishka, once more balked in her enterprise, went back to the Harim.
The Secret Witness | George GibbsHe kissed her again, and then quickly, "The Harim is—where?"
The Secret Witness | George GibbsThe living tents are smaller, and the word beyt house here applies only to the harim.
A Pilgrimage to Nejd, Vol. 2 [of 2] | Anne Blunt
British Dictionary definitions for harem
hareem (hɑːˈriːm)
/ (ˈhɛərəm, hɑːˈriːm) /
the part of an Oriental house reserved strictly for wives, concubines, etc
a Muslim's wives and concubines collectively
a group of female animals of the same species that are the mates of a single male
Origin of harem
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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