at-home

[at-hohm]

noun

1. Also at home a reception of visitors at certain hours at one's home.

adjective

1. done or used in the home; intended for one's home.

   a new line of at-home computers; at-home assignments for free-lance workers.

at-home

noun

1. another name for open day

2. a social gathering in a person's home

Word History and Origins

Origin of at-home¹

First recorded in 1740–45

Idioms and Phrases

In one's own residence, town, or country. For example, Mary was not at home when I called , or Tourists in a foreign country often behave more rudely than they do at home . This idiom was first recorded in a ninth-century treatise.

Ready to receive a visitor, as in We are always at home to our neighbor's children . This usage gave rise to the noun at-home , meaning a reception to which guests are invited on a specific day at specific hours (also see open house ). [c. 1600]

Also, at home with . Comfortable and familiar, as in Mary always makes us feel at home , or I've never been at home with his style of management . [Early 1500s] Also see at ease , def. 1.

Also, at home with . Proficient, well-versed in, as in Young John is so much at home with numbers that he may well become a mathematician , or Chris is really at home in French . [Late 1700s]

In team sports, playing on one's own field or in one's own town. For example, The Red Sox always do better at home than they do at away games .

Related Words

• banquet 
• barbecue 
• bash 
• feast 
• festivity 
• gala 
• luncheon 
• reception 
• shindig