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. Sometimes holidays. Chiefly British. 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

/ ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ; -dɪ /

noun

1. often plural
   1. a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation US and Canadian wordvacation
   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 ferial

verb

1. intr to spend a holiday

Holiday

²

/ ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. HolidayBillie19151959FUSMUSIC: jazz singer Billie. real name Eleanora Fagan; known as Lady Day. 1915–59, US jazz singer

Other Words From

• pre·holi·day 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

Day a state holiday, 21 years after President Reagan made it a federal holiday.

From The Daily Beast

Not long after the holiday presents are put away and the guests have gone home, another season begins.

From The Daily Beast

While traveling this holiday season, a relative and I were pulled over by a police officer.

From The Daily Beast

Otherwise, we will be but celebrating an empty holiday, missing its true meaning altogether.

From The Daily Beast

Gävle Goat must be dreading the imminent holiday and his fifty-fifty chance of destruction.

From The Daily Beast

Ascension being a holiday here, all we pianists made up a walking party out to Tiefurt, about two miles distant.

From Project Gutenberg

For instance, few workmen will take a holiday; they prefer a "day's out" or "play."

From Project Gutenberg

Isaacson did not visit Mrs. Chepstow again before he left London for his annual holiday.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, it made me understand for the first time that even a Bank Holiday need not be a day of wrath and mourning.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1878 Mathieson and I took a short holiday together and crossed to Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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