Office Definition: A Room or Building for Professional Work

Meaning 1：a room or building for professional work (office)

office 🔊

/ˈɒfɪs/

A place where people work at desks, usually in a building. It can be a single room or a whole building.

Modern office interior with desks, computers, and natural light

a room or building for professional work 🔊

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/ə ruːm ɔːr ˈbɪldɪŋ fɔːr prəˈfeʃənəl wɜːrk/

A dedicated indoor space, such as a room or a whole building, where people perform administrative, clerical, or managerial tasks. It typically contains desks, computers, and other equipment needed for work.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'officium' (duty, service), combining 'opus' (work) and 'facere' (to do).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'off' + 'ice' – when your work is 'off', you might need some 'ice' to cool down at the office.

📖 Example

Sarah spilled her coffee on an important document in the office, causing a mini panic before the meeting. 🔊 Sarah spilled her coffee on an important document in the office, causing a mini panic before the meeting.

🔗 Collocations

office building – A large building that contains many separate offices for different companies or organizations.

office hours – The set times during which an office is open or during which a professional is available to see people.

office work – Work that is done in an office, typically involving paperwork, computers, and communication.

🔄 Synonyms

workplace (n.) – A general term for any location where work is done, including offices, factories, or remote sites.

bureau (n.) – A desk with drawers; also used to refer to an office or department within an organization.

study (n.) – A room in a house used for reading, writing, or other quiet work, similar to a small home office.

🌱 Derivatives

officer (n.) – A person who holds a position of authority in an organization, such as a police officer or corporate officer.

official (adj./n.) – Relating to an office or position of authority; also a person in such a position.

officiate (v.) – To act in an official capacity, such as presiding over a ceremony or game.

📖 Cultural Story

Originally referred to a church service (divine office). By the 14th century, it shifted to mean a position or duty, and later a physical place for conducting business or professional work.