Library

/ˈlaɪ.brər.i/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonPlace
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A place where books, periodicals, and other materials are kept for reading or borrowing.

/ˈlaɪ.brər.i/

nounneutralBeginner
Place

A building or room containing a collection of books, periodicals, and other materials for reading or borrowing.

I love spending time at the library.

💡 Simply: A library is like a giant treasure chest full of stories and information. You can go there to read books, magazines, or even use computers. It’s a place where you can learn a lot and explore new worlds!

👶 For kids: A library is a place with lots and lots of books!

More Examples

2

The library offers a variety of programs for children.

3

The city is planning to build a new public library.

How It's Used

General

"She goes to the library every week to borrow books."

Academic

"The university library is a valuable resource for students."

2

A collection of books, manuscripts, or other informational materials.

/ˈlaɪ.brər.i/

nounneutralmedium
Collection

A collection of books and other informational resources.

The museum has a remarkable library of historical artifacts.

💡 Simply: Think about all the books you have at home or on your phone. That's your own little library! It’s all the stuff you use to learn and get information, from books and movies to online articles.

👶 For kids: A library is a bunch of books, all together.

More Examples

2

I have a vast library of ebooks on my tablet.

3

The company is building a digital library of their training materials.

How It's Used

Digital

"The website has an extensive online library of articles."

Historical

"His personal library contained a vast collection of antique maps."

Tip:Imagine a "treasure trove of knowledge" when remembering.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

the Library of Congress

The national library of the United States.

"Researchers often use the resources available at the Library of Congress."

digital library

A library of digital resources, accessible online.

"The university is developing a new digital library."

From Latin *libraria* ('book collection'), derived from *liber* ('book'). Originally referred to a collection of books and subsequently the building housing them.

Historically, libraries were often associated with religious institutions or wealthy individuals who collected books and manuscripts.

Memory tip

Think of the "book-filled air" when recalling this word!

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"book"

public libraryuniversity librarydigital libraryresearch libraryreference library

Common misspellings

libaryliberylybrary

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written