host

Meanings

Noun

• One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
• One that provides a facility for an event.
• A person or organization responsible for running an event.
• A moderator or master of ceremonies for a performance.
• Any computer attached to a network.
• A cell or organism which harbors another organism or biological entity, usually a parasite.
• An organism bearing certain genetic material.
• A paid male companion offering conversation and in some cases sex, as in certain types of bar in Japan.
• A multitude of people arrayed as an army; used also in religious senses, as: Heavenly host (of angels)
• A large number of items; a large inventory.
• The consecrated bread of the Eucharist.

Verb

• To perform the role of a host.
• To lodge at an inn.
• To run software made available to a remote user or process.

Related

Similar words

• presenter

Narrower meaning words

• localhost

Origin

• From Middle English hoste, from Old French oste (French: hôte), from Latin hospitem, accusative of hospes, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰostipotis ("master of guests"), from *gʰóstis and *pótis. Used in English since 13th century. guest.
• From Middle English oost, borrowed from Old French ost, hoste, from Latin hostis ("foreign enemy") (as opposed to inimicus); cognate with etymology 1 through an Indo-European root.
• From Middle English host, oist, ost, from Old French hoiste, from Latin hostia ("sacrificial victim"). hostie.