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library

American  

[lahy-brer-ee, -bruh-ree, -bree] / ˈlaɪˌbrɛr i, -brə ri, -bri /

noun

• libraries
  plural

1. a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed.

2. a public body organizing and maintaining such an establishment.

3. a collection of manuscripts, publications, and other materials for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference.

4. a collection of any materials for study and enjoyment, as films, musical recordings, or maps.

5. a commercial establishment lending books for a fixed charge; a lending library.

6. a series of books of similar character or alike in size, binding, etc., issued by a single publishing house.

7. Biology. a collection of standard materials or formulations by which specimens are identified.

8. canon.

9. Computers. a collection of software or data usually reflecting a specific theme or application.

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library British  

/ ˈlaɪbrərɪ /

noun

1. a room or set of rooms where books and other literary materials are kept

2. a collection of literary materials, films, CDs, children's toys, etc, kept for borrowing or reference

3. the building or institution that houses such a collection

   a public library

4. a set of books published as a series, often in a similar format

5. computing a collection of standard programs and subroutines for immediate use, usually stored on disk or some other storage device

6. a collection of specific items for reference or checking against

   a library of genetic material

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Pronunciation

Library, with one r -sound following close upon another, is particularly vulnerable to the process of dissimilation—the tendency for neighboring like sounds to become unlike, or for one of them to disappear altogether. The pronunciation , therefore, while still the most common, is frequently reduced by educated speakers, both in the U.S. and in England, to the dissimilated or . A third dissimilated form is more likely to be heard from less educated or very young speakers, and is often criticized. See colonel, February, governor.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interlibrary
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• libraries
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of library

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English libraire, from Middle French librairie, from Medieval Latin librāria, noun use of feminine of Latin librārius (adjective) “of books,” from libr-, stem of liber “book” + -ārius -ary

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Explanation

A library is a place where collections of books are kept. If you ever want a reminder of how very much there is to learn in this world, pay a visit to your local library. The noun library, meaning, “a room or building where books are housed,” comes from the Latin librarium “chest for books.” That, in turn, evolved from the Latin liber, a word meaning “book, paper, parchment,” and, more literally, “the inner bark of trees.” The writer Jorge Luis Borges said, “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” What would your vision of paradise look like?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

library libraries

"We have a number of different things in what we call the library, things that we've written before," he added.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Netflix was the streamer that broke the mold with its combination of buzzy original programming and library of classics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

At its heart is the Audre D. Carlin Reading Room, where visitors can request items from the library and archive, including recordings of every production staged at the Globe since the mid-1990s.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

When Bhengura received his proof of voter registration in the mail shortly later, he assumed he could head down to the local library and cast his ballot in the 2024 election, his attorney said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

I had never been in a place that was as still as it was in that library.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Many have libraries of shows and movies as vast as those of industry standard-bearers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Free books for 150 red phone box libraries are being made available to celebrate 100 years of two British legends - Winnie-the-Pooh and the K2 red phone box.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The principal lecturer in public health at Canterbury Christ Church University said she hoped the initiative promoted and encouraged other people to set up phone box libraries.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Madigan will oversee 18 schools and academic units along with student life, libraries and enrollment services.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

“The cat is one of the tokens from that board game,” said Sierra, who had been studying Lemoncello games the way Kyle had been studying libraries and books.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

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