holiday
Meaning
-
- A day on which a festival, religious event, or national celebration is traditionally observed.
- A day declared free from work by the state or government.
- A period of one or more days taken off work for leisure and often travel; often plural.
- A period during which pupils do not attend their school; often plural; rarely used for students at university (usually: vacation).
- A period during which, by agreement, the usual payments are not made.
- A gap in coverage, e.g. of paint on a surface, or sonar imagery.
Synonyms
festival day
memorial day
name-day
business suspended
school holiday
religious holiday
festive day
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English halyday, holyday, halidei, haliȝdei, from Old English hāliġdæġ (“holy day, Sabbath”), equivalent to holy + day. Compare West Frisian hjeldei (“holiday”), Danish helligdag (“holiday”), Norwegian helligdag (“holiday”), Swedish helgdag (“holiday, feast”).
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Notes