host

[ hohst ]

/ hoʊst /

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noun

a person who receives or entertains guests at home or elsewhere: the host at a theater party.

a master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program.

a person, place, company, or the like, that provides services, resources, etc., as for a convention or sporting event: Our city would like to serve as host for the next Winter Olympics.

the landlord of an inn.

a living animal or plant from which a parasite obtains nutrition.

Surgery. the recipient of a graft.Compare donor (def. 2).

verb (used with object)

to be the host at (a dinner, reception, etc.): He hosted a reception for new members.

to act as host to: The vice president hosted the foreign dignitaries during their visit.

to act as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for: to host a popular talk show.

verb (used without object)

to perform the duties or functions of a host.

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Origin of host

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun (h)oste, ost(e), from Old French (h)oste, from Latin hospit- (stem of hospes ) “host, guest, stranger,” perhaps from unrecorded hosti-pot(i)s or hos-pot(i)s, equivalent to hos(ti)- combining form of hostis “foreigner, stranger, enemy” + -pot(is) suffix akin to adjective potis “having the power to,” and posse “to be able” (see potent¹); hence, “one granting hospitality, one in charge of guests”; see also hospodar; compare, with different initial elements, Lithuanian viẽšpats “lord,” and Greek despótēs “master (of the house), lord, despot ”

OTHER WORDS FROM host

hostless, adjectivehostship, noun

Words nearby host

hospital record, hospital ship, hospital train, hospitium, hospodar, host, hosta, hostage, host computer, hostel, hosteler

Other definitions for host (2 of 3)

host²

[ hohst ]

/ hoʊst /

noun

a multitude or great number of persons or things: a host of details.

an army.

OTHER WORDS FOR host

1 swarm, crowd, drove, throng, horde; myriad.

See synonyms for host on Thesaurus.com

Origin of host

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (h)oste, ost(e), from Old French, from Latin hostis “stranger, enemy”; akin to guest;cf. host¹

Other definitions for host (3 of 3)

Host

[ hohst ]

/ hoʊst /

noun Ecclesiastical.

the bread or wafer consecrated in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Origin of Host

1275–1325; Middle English hoste<Late Latin hostia Eucharistic wafer (Latin: victim, sacrifice); replacing Middle English oyst<Middle French oiste<Late Latin, as above

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use host in a sentence

Jon Taffer is a bar owner, consultant, and host of the television program Bar Rescue.
Bar Rescue: Pandemic Edition|jakemeth|September 15, 2020|Fortune
The underlying reasons that make overruns inevitable, Flyvjberg said, include the lack of ability of a host to reverse its decision, or any chance to save on cost by delaying the project.
Want to Host the Olympics? Plan to Go Over Budget|Fiona Zublin|September 14, 2020|Ozy
Source Andrew Mangum for OZYMany international players stay with host families for the duration of the season.
Can Small-Town America Survive Pandemic’s Hit to Minor League Baseball?|Charu Kasturi|September 14, 2020|Ozy
When the pandemic forced remote work, content became what influencers, celebrities and show hosts could create from the comfort of their homes and often from their iPhones.
‘Our goal is to become a massive marketplace’: NTWRK is bringing livestream commerce to a younger generation|Kayleigh Barber|September 14, 2020|Digiday

The next Book Club episode we’re planning will have me as host again.
What if Your Company Had No Rules? (Bonus Episode)|Maria Konnikova|September 12, 2020|Freakonomics
When we had that meeting in the Caribbean, Jeffrey was holding his own and not only was he a pleasant host, he was pleasant guy.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Kyle Dietrich, 36, is a host of one of the DC Dinner Parties.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone|Samantha Levine|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At his Tucson hacienda he is a gracious host and a good neighbor.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Earlier in the segment, host Chuck Todd had asked him if he understood and acknowledged that black people have a fear of police.
Memo to Cops: Criticisms Aren’t Attacks|Michael Tomasky|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
NBC News boss Deborah Turness abruptly ousted the ‘Meet the Press’ host four months ago.
David Gregory's 'Meet the Press' Eviction Exposed in Washingtonian Takedown|Lloyd Grove|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And with that the host gave him such a kick as sent him howling into the street, amidst the roars of the company.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
My self-appointed host, whose name was Goodell, waved me to a chair, and took one opposite.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Everybody was sorry to go when they left, and their host regretted the departure of his visitors.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
There was a host of friends and acquaintances around the little home, making merry and admiring the baby.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
Elmer Spiker, mine host of the inn, was huddled close to the stove, and was reading by the light of a lamp.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for host (1 of 3)

host¹

/ (həʊst) /

noun

a person who receives or entertains guests, esp in his own home

a country or organization which provides facilities for and receives visitors to an event
(as modifier)the host nation

the compere of a show or television programme

biology

an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite
an animal, esp an embryo, into which tissue is experimentally grafted

computing a computer connected to a network and providing facilities to other computers and their users

the owner or manager of an inn

verb

to be the host of (a party, programme, etc)to host one's own show

(tr) US informal to leave (a restaurant) without paying the bill

Word Origin for host

C13: from French hoste, from Latin hospes guest, foreigner, from hostis enemy

British Dictionary definitions for host (2 of 3)

host²

/ (həʊst) /

noun

a great number; multitude

an archaic word for army

Word Origin for host

C13: from Old French hoste, from Latin hostis stranger, enemy

British Dictionary definitions for host (3 of 3)

Host

/ (həʊst) /

noun

the bread consecrated in the Eucharist

Word Origin for Host

C14: from Old French oiste, from Latin hostia victim

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

Medical definitions for host

host

[ hōst ]

The animal or plant on which or in which a parasitic organism lives.

The recipient of a transplanted tissue or organ.

Scientific definitions for host

host

[ hōst ]

The larger of two organisms in a symbiotic relationship.
An organism or cell on or in which a parasite lives or feeds.♦ A definitive host is an organism in which a parasite reaches sexual maturity. The anopheles mosquito is the definitive host for the malaria plasmodium because, while the mosquito is not adversely affected by the plasmodium's presence, it is the organism in which the plasmodium matures and reproduces.♦ An intermediate host is an organism in which a parasite develops but does not attain sexual maturity. Humans and certain other vertebrates are the intermediate host of the malaria plasmodium.♦ A paratenic host is an organism which may be required for the completion of a parasite's life cycle but in which no development of the parasite occurs. The unhatched eggs of nematodes are sometimes carried in a paratenic host such as a bird or rodent. When a predator eats the paratenic host, the eggs are ingested as well.

The recipient of a transplanted tissue or organ.

A computer containing data or programs that another computer can access by means of a network or modem.

host

Origin of host

OTHER WORDS FROM host

Words nearby host

Other definitions for host (2 of 3)

OTHER WORDS FOR host

Origin of host

Other definitions for host (3 of 3)

Origin of Host

Words related to host

How to use host in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for host (1 of 3)

Word Origin for host

British Dictionary definitions for host (2 of 3)

Word Origin for host

British Dictionary definitions for host (3 of 3)

Word Origin for Host

Medical definitions for host

Scientific definitions for host