home

I. noun Etymology: Middle English hom, from Old English hām village, home; akin to Old High German heim home, Lithuanian šeima family, servants, Sanskrit kṣema habitable, kṣeti he dwells, Greek ktizein to inhabit Date: before 12th century 1. a. one's place of residence ; domicile b. house 2. the social unit formed by a family living together 3. a. a familiar or usual setting ; congenial environment; also the focus of one's domestic attention <

home is where the heart is

> b. habitat 4. a. a place of origin <

salmon returning to their home to spawn

>; also one's own country <

having troubles at home and abroad

> b. headquarters 2 <

home of the dance company

> 5. an establishment providing residence and care for people with special needs <

homes for the elderly

> 6. the objective in various games; especially home plate II. adverb Date: before 12th century 1. to or at one's home <

go home

> <

stayed home all day

> 2. a. to a final, closed, or ultimate position <

drive a nail home

> b. to or at an ultimate objective (as a goal or finish line) 3. to a vital sensitive core <

the truth struck home

> III. adjective Date: 1552 1. of, relating to, or being a home, place of origin, or base of operations <

home office

> 2. prepared, done, or designed for use in a home <

home remedies

> <

home cooking

> <

a home videotape system

> 3. operating or occurring in a home area <

the home team

> <

home games

> IV. verb (homed; homing) Date: 1765 intransitive verb 1. to go or return home 2. of an animal to return accurately to one's home or natal area from a distance 3. to proceed to or toward a source of radiated energy used as a guide <

missiles home in on radar

> 4. to proceed or direct attention toward an objective <

science is homing in on the mysterious human process — Sam Glucksberg

> transitive verb to send to or provide with a home