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View synonyms for library

library

[ lahy-brer-ee, -bruh-ree, -bree ]

noun

, plural li·brar·ies.
  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. Computers. a collection of software or data usually reflecting a specific theme or application.


library

/ ˈlaɪbrərɪ /

noun

  1. a room or set of rooms where books and other literary materials are kept
  2. a collection of literary materials, films, CDs, children's toys, etc, kept for borrowing or reference
  3. the building or institution that houses such a collection

    a public library

  4. a set of books published as a series, often in a similar format
  5. computing a collection of standard programs and subroutines for immediate use, usually stored on disk or some other storage device
  6. a collection of specific items for reference or checking against

    a library of genetic material



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Pronunciation Note

Library, with one r -sound following close upon another, is particularly vulnerable to the process of dissimilation—the tendency for neighboring like sounds to become unlike, or for one of them to disappear altogether. The pronunciation [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, -b, uh, -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.

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Other Words From

  • inter·librar·y adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of library1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English libraire, from Middle French librairie, from Medieval Latin librāria, noun use of feminine of Latin librārius (adjective) “of books,” from libr-, stem of liber “book” + -ārius -ary

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Word History and Origins

Origin of library1

C14: from Old French librairie, from Medieval Latin librāris, n use of Latin librārius relating to books, from liber book

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Example Sentences

A malicious app on the same Android device could exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious modules into other apps that rely on the library to steal private information, like passwords and credit card numbers, from inside the app.

Therein lies the problem, because they aren’t inclined to avoid using arguably the greatest client-side library innovation since jQuery.

Deputy Chief Operating Officer Bob Vacchi was a well-respected manager overseeing libraries, parks and other departments and insiders, Lisa Halverstadt writes, saw him as an even-keeled bureaucrat who played by the rules.

Carson had a reputation for being fiscally hawkish, which did not mesh with some of Brady’s plans for the district – like new furniture across all classrooms and libraries.

We’ve been publishing A Parent’s Guide to Public Schools in English and Spanish and presented it to parents through public libraries throughout the county.

The resources were what you might expect: Dining room, a media center, a library, a TV room, a meeting room, a computer room.

At that point, the Library of Congress can once again decide to prohibit consumers from unlocking their cell phones.

He does not hesitate to hide some Marxist books from her library because she fears that the military could use them against her.

For a few hours every day she would read big books at the library, watch reruns of the show, and dig through questions in the J!

A shooter opened fire inside the library at Florida State University this morning.

The parliament house and library of the British provinces, at Montreal, burned by a mob.

This library is considered the most valuable and extensive in American history and antiquities, ever collected.

At this stock-taking the number unaccounted-for is twenty-two, several of which are quite recent accessions to the Library.

The correspondence of the Library has quite materially increased in volume.

She wished that Lady Victoria had made the appointment for the library, which was equally in tune with another side of her.

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