[lahy-brer-ee, -bruh-ree, -bree] 
| 1. | a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed. |
| 2. | a public body organizing and maintaining such an establishment. |
| 3. | a collection of manuscripts, publications, and other materials for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference. |
| 4. | a collection of any materials for study and enjoyment, as films, musical recordings, or maps. |
| 5. | a commercial establishment lending books for a fixed charge; a lending library. |
| 6. | a series of books of similar character or alike in size, binding, etc., issued by a single publishing house. |
| 7. | Biology. a collection of standard materials or formulations by which specimens are identified. |
| 8. | canon 1 (def. 9). |
| 9. | Computers. a collection of software or data usually reflecting a specific theme or application. |
[lahy-brer-ee] , therefore, while still the most common, is frequently reduced by educated speakers, both in the U.S. and in England, to the dissimilated [lahy-buh-ree] or [lahy-bree]. A third dissimilated form [lahy-ber-ee] is more likely to be heard from less educated or very young speakers, and is often criticized. See colonel, February, governor. | li·brar·y (lī'brěr'ē) n. pl. li·brar·ies
[Middle English librarie, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin librārium, bookcase, from neuter of librārius, of books, from liber, libr-, book.] |
library
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