holiday
pronunciation
How to pronounce holiday in British English:
UK [ˈhɒlədeɪ]
How to pronounce holiday in American English:
US [ˈhɑːlədeɪ]
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- Noun:
- leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
- a day on which work is suspended by law or custom
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- Verb:
- spend or take a vacation
Word Origin
- holiday
- holiday: [OE] A holiday was originally a ‘holy day’, a day set aside as a religious festival. The first signs of the word being used for a ‘day on which no work is done’ (originally because of its religious significance) appear in the 14th century.=> holy
- holiday (n.)
- 1500s, earlier haliday (c. 1200), from Old English haligdæg "holy day; Sabbath," from halig "holy" (see holy) + dæg "day" (see day); in 14c. meaning both "religious festival" and "day of recreation," but pronunciation and sense diverged 16c. As a verb meaning "to pass the holidays" by 1869. Happy holidays is from mid-19c., in British English, with reference to summer vacation from school. As a Christmastime greeting, by 1937, American English, in Camel cigarette ads.
Example
- 1. But a company holiday party is indeed a sport .
- 2. Microsoft is hoping the kinect connects with holiday shoppers .
- 3. It was something she did during her university holiday .
- 4. The tokyo market was closed for a holiday .
- 5. Total u.s. spending is expected to reach $ 14.7 billion for the holiday .