Cottage

'kɒtɪdʒ

nounBeginner📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

1

A small house, typically one in the country.

'kɒtɪdʒ

nounpositiveBeginner
General

A small, typically cozy house in the countryside.

The family rented a cottage for a week-long holiday.

💡 Simply: Imagine a tiny, super cute house, maybe with a fireplace and flowers, usually in a quiet place like the woods or near the beach. It's a cozy getaway!

👶 For kids: A cottage is a small house, like a dollhouse but real, that's usually in the country.

More Examples

2

She dreamed of retiring to a little cottage by the sea.

3

The cottage had a beautiful garden filled with roses.

How It's Used

Residential

"They spent their summer vacation in a charming cottage by the lake."

Real Estate

"The real estate market features several cottages for sale in the area."

Literature

"The old woman lived in a quaint cottage at the edge of the forest."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

cottage cheese

A soft, lumpy cheese made from skim milk curds and cream.

"She ate cottage cheese for breakfast."

From Middle English cotage, cotage, from Old English cot, meaning 'hut' or 'shelter,' and -age, a suffix indicating a place or state. Originally referred to a small dwelling, often in a rural setting.

The term 'cottage' has been used since the Middle Ages, evolving from a basic dwelling for peasants to a more desirable residence.

Memory tip

Think of a cozy, small house in the countryside, maybe with a garden.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"a humble dwelling"

charming cottagesmall cottagecountry cottageholiday cottagerent a cottage

Common misspellings

cotagecottadge

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written