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holiday

[ hol-i-dey ]
/ ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /
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noun
adjective
of or relating to a festival; festive; joyous: a holiday mood.
suitable for a holiday: holiday attire.
verb (used without object)
Chiefly British. to vacation: to holiday at the seaside.
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Origin of holiday

before 950; Middle English; Old English hāligdæg.See holy, day

OTHER WORDS FROM holiday

pre·hol·i·day, adjective

Other definitions for holiday (2 of 2)

Holiday
[ hol-i-dey ]
/ ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /

noun
Billie "Lady Day", 1915–59, U.S. jazz singer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use holiday in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for holiday (1 of 2)

holiday
/ (ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ, -dɪ) /

noun
(often plural) mainly British
  1. a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreationUS and Canadian word: vacation
  2. (as modifier)a holiday mood
a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank holiday, etcRelated adjective: ferial
verb
(intr) mainly British to spend a holiday

Word Origin for holiday

Old English hāligdæg, literally: holy day

British Dictionary definitions for holiday (2 of 2)

Holiday
/ (ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ) /

noun
Billie. real name Eleanora Fagan; known as Lady Day. 1915–59, US jazz singer
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with holiday

holiday

see busman's holiday.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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