warehouse

American  

[wair-hous, wair-houz, -hous] / ˈwɛərˌhaʊs, ˈwɛərˌhaʊz, -ˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

warehouses

1. a building, or a part of one, for the storage of goods, merchandise, etc.

2. British. a large retail store.

3. a building, or a part of one, in which wholesalers keep large stocks of merchandise, which they display and sell to retailers.

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verb (used with object)

warehoused, warehousing

1. to place, deposit, or store in a warehouse.

2. to set aside or accumulate, as for future use.

3. to place in a government or bonded warehouse, to be kept until duties are paid.

4. Informal. to confine (the mentally ill) to large institutions for long-term custodial care.

warehouse British  

noun

1. a place where goods are stored prior to their use, distribution, or sale

2. See bonded warehouse

3. a large commercial, esp wholesale, establishment

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verb

1. (tr) to store or place in a warehouse, esp a bonded warehouse

Other Word Forms

• miniwarehouse noun

Etymology

Origin of warehouse

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; ware ¹, house

Example Sentences

He later moves through a courtyard and inside a large warehouse, and walks in and out of adjacent rooms filled with more body bags.

From BBC

This was the first time I'd encountered a data centre that wasn't a giant warehouse, and I was initially very sceptical about the whole thing.

From BBC

In a warehouse on an industrial estate a group of volunteers are sorting through items donated to a Dorset baby bank.

From BBC

Among the businesses raided were a warehouse in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, on 25 November, where 13 people were arrested, with 11 Brazilian and Romanian nationals detained for removal from the UK.

From BBC

Suddenly, your kitchen feels like a curated warehouse of neglected purchases.

From Salon