Reading Theme:
Household: Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：family group (household)
household
/ˈhaʊs.hoʊld/
n.
All the people who live together in one house or apartment, usually a family.
family group
➕
/ˈfæməli ɡruːp/
n.
A group of people, often a family, who share a home together.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Old English 'hūs' (house) + 'haldan' (to hold) → 'household' originally meant 'the people holding the house'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a 'house' that 'holds' all the people living together under one roof.
📖 Example
My household includes my parents, my younger sister, and our dog, Max.
My household includes my parents, my younger sister, and our dog, Max.
🔗 Collocations
household income – The total income earned by all members of a household
household chores – Regular tasks done in the home, such as cleaning and cooking
one-person household – A household consisting of a single person living alone
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
individual (n.) – A single person considered separately from a group
stranger (n.) – A person who is not part of the household and is unknown to its members
🌱 Derivatives
householder (n.) – A person who owns or rents a house and is responsible for the household
householding (n.) – The management or running of a household
📖 Cultural Story
In medieval England, 'household' referred to the entire group of servants and family living under one roof. Today it is widely used in census and economics to describe consumption units.
Meaning 2：domestic items (household)
household
/ˈhaʊs.hoʊld/
n.
Used as an adjective to describe things relating to or used by a family at home.
domestic items
➕
/dəˈmestɪk ˈaɪtəmz/
n.
Objects or products used in the daily running of a home, such as cleaning supplies or kitchen tools.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
We need to buy some household items like a new vacuum cleaner and kitchen towels.
We need to buy some household items like a new vacuum cleaner and kitchen towels.
🔗 Collocations
household products – Items such as detergents, soaps, and cleaning agents used in the home
household waste – Garbage and refuse generated by a home
household appliance – Electrical or mechanical devices used in the home, e.g., refrigerator, washing machine
🔄 Synonyms
domestic (adj.) – Relating to the running of a home or family
home (adj.) – Used in or relating to one's own house
residential (adj.) – Designed for or used in places where people live
🚫 Antonyms
commercial (adj.) – Relating to business, trade, or industry rather than home use
industrial (adj.) – Used in factories or large-scale production, not for home
🌱 Derivatives
household name (n.) – A person or brand that is very well known to the public
Wordbook
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