live-in

[liv-in]

adjective

1. Also residing at the place of one's employment.

   a live-in maid.

2. living in a cohabitant relationship.

noun

1. a live-in person.

live in

/ lɪv /

verb

1. (of an employee, as in a hospital or hotel) to dwell at one's place of employment

adjective

1. living in the place at which one works

   a live-in maid

2. living with someone else in that person's home

   a live-in lover

Word History and Origins

Origin of live in¹

1950–55; adj., noun use of verb phrase live in ( a place )

Idioms and Phrases

Reside in one's place of employment or schooling, as in They wanted a baby-sitter who could live in , or Joe was planning to live in at the college . This expression is used primarily for domestic servants or students. [Late 1800s] Also see live out .

live in something . Continue in existence, memory, or some feeling. This sense appears in such phrases as live in the past , meaning “to concentrate on past memories,” or live in hope of , meaning “to continue anticipating that something will happen.” For example, Alice lived in the past; she had no interest in current events , or Jim lived in hope of getting a teaching post . Also see live in sin .

Related Words

• cover 
• establish 
• fill 
• hold 
• inhabit 
• involve 
• keep 
• maintain 
• own 
• populate 
• remain 
• sit 
• stay