Etymology : Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin hostis, from Latin, stranger, enemy; more at GUEST
Pronunciation : hOst
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. consecrated bread used during Communion (Christianity). one who receives guests; living creature on which a parasite lives; large number, multitude (of people or things); computer which acts as a server for other computers. act as master of ceremonies; receive guests into one's home; throw a party. host\host\, n. (biol.) any animal or plant affording lodgment or subsistence to a parasitic or commensal organism. thus a tree is a host of an air plant growing upon it.host \host\, n. [oe. host, ost, of. hoste, oste, f. hôte, from l. hospes a stranger who is treated as a guest, he who treats another as his guest, a hostl prob. fr. hostis stranger, enemy (akin to e. guest a visitor) + potis able; akin to skr. pati master, lord. see:
host an army, possible, and cf. hospitable, hotel.] one who receives or entertains another, whether gratuitously or for compensation; one from whom another receives food, lodging, or entertainment; a landlord. "fair host and earl." time is like a fashionable host, that slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand.host \host\ (hōst), n. [ll. hostia sacrifice, victim, from hostire to strike.] (r. c. ch.) the consecrated wafer, believed to be the body of christ, which in the mass is offered as a sacrifice; also, the bread before consecration.note: in the latin vulgate the word was applied to the savior as being an offering for the sins of men.host \host\, n. [oe. host, ost, of. host, ost, fr. l. hostis enemy, ll., army. see:
guest, and cf. host a landlord.].
2. an army; a number of men gathered for war. a host so great as covered all the field.
3. any great number or multitude; a throng. and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising god. i.
4. all at once i saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils.host \host\, v. t. to give entertainment to. [obs.]host \host\, v. i. to lodge at an inn; to take up entertainment. [obs.] "where you shall host."host n.
5. a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there.
6. a vast multitude [syn: horde, legion].
7. an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; the host does not benefit and is often harmed by the association [ant: parasite].
8. a person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers) [syn: master of ceremonies , emcee].
9. archaic terms for army [syn: legion].
10. any organization that provides resources and facilities for a function or event; "atlanta was chosen to be host for the olympic games".
11. (medicine) recipient of transplanted tissue or organ from a donor.
12. the owner or manager of an inn [syn: innkeeper].
13. a technical name for the bread used in the service of mass or holy communion [syn: host].
14. (computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network [syn: server] be the host of or for; "we hosted 4 couples last night"host an entertainer (rom. 16:23); a tavern-keeper, the keeper of a caravansary (luke 10:35). in warfare, a troop or military force. this consisted at first only of infantry. solomon afterwards added cavalry (1 kings 4:26; 10:26). every male israelite from twenty to fifty years of age was bound by the law to bear arms when necessary (num. 1:3; 26:2; 2 chr. 25:5). saul was the first to form a standing army (1 sam. 13:2; 24:2). this example was followed by david (1 chr. 27:1), and solomon (1 kings 4:26), and by the kings of israel and judah (2 chr. 17:14; 26:11; 2 kings 11:4, etc.).
15. The consecrated wafer, believed to be the body of Christ, which in the Mass is offered as a sacrifice; also, the bread before consecration.
16. An army; a number of men gathered for war.
17. Any great number or multitude; a throng.
18. One who receives or entertains another, whether gratuitously or for compensation; one from whom another receives food, lodging, or entertainment; a landlord.
19. To give entertainment to.
20. To lodge at an inn; to take up entertainment.
21. Any animal or plant affording lodgment or subsistence to a parasitic or commensal organism.
22. Thus a tree is a host of an air plant growing upon it. an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; the host does not benefit and is often harmed by the association a technical name for the bread used in the service of Mass or Holy Communion archaic terms for army any organization that provides resources and facilities for a function or event; "Atlanta was chosen to be host for the Olympic Games" the owner or manager of an inn a person who invites guests to a social event and who is responsible for them while they are there recipient of transplanted tissue or organ from a donor be the host of or for; "We hosted 4 couples last night".
23. 1. The host at a party is the person who has invited the guests and provides the food, drink, or entertainment. Apart from my host, I didn't know a single person there.
24. If someone hosts a party, dinner, or other function, they have invited the guests and provide the food, drink, or entertainment. Tonight she hosts a ball for 300 guests.
25. A country, city, or organization that is the host of an event provides the facilities for that event to take place. Barcelona was chosen to be host of the 1992 Olympic games.
26. If a country, city, or organization hosts an event, they provide the facilities for the event to take place. Cannes hosts the annual film festival.
27. If a person or country plays host to an event or an important visitor, they host the event or the visit. The Prime Minister played host to French Premier Jacques Chirac.
28. The host of a radio or television show is the person who introduces it and talks to the people who appear in it. I am host of a live radio programme. = presenter.
29. The person who hosts a radio or television show introduces it and talks to the people who appear in it. She also hosts a show on St Petersburg Radio.
30. A host of things is a lot of them. A host of problems may delay the opening of the Channel Tunnel = multitude.
31. A host or a host computer is the main computer in a network of computers, which controls the most important files and programs.
32. The host of a parasite is the plant or animal which it lives on or inside and from which it gets its food. When the eggs hatch the larvae eat the living flesh of the host animal.
33. The Host is the bread which is used to represent the body of Christ in Christian church services such as Holy Communion. The consecrated bread or wafer of the Eucharist.