feeling sad or lonely because you are a long way from your home and family
The student felt very homesick during her first week at university.
After months abroad, the worker got homesick and booked a flight home.
✦ Mid 18th century: formed as home + sick, on the pattern of German Heimweh.
a feeling of sadness, longing, or anxiety that one feels when away from home or one's familiar surroundings for a long time.
After weeks at summer camp, the homesickness finally passed.
The college student called home daily to ease his homesickness.
✦ First appearing in English in the 1750s, 'homesickness' translates the Swiss German 'Heimweh,' literally 'home woe,' and combines the words 'home' and 'sickness.'
the house, apartment, or other place where a person or a family lives
After a long trip, Nora was happy to finally be back home.
Carlos invited his friends to his new home for dinner.
✦ Old English hām, meaning “dwelling, estate” ; related to German Heim and Dutch heim.
to or at the place where one lives
It’s getting late; let’s go home.
After work, he drives straight home to relax.
a place where people who need special care live and are looked after, such as a nursing home or children’s home
My grandfather moved into a nursing home where nurses help him every day.
The charity raises money for a local children’s home.
relating to or done in the place where someone lives rather than somewhere else
We enjoyed a simple home meal instead of eating out.
The team plays its first three home games this season.
to move or be guided toward a target or goal, often with accuracy
The missile homed in on its target with precision.
The pigeon instinctively homes to its loft from miles away.
✦ From the noun sense; first used of homing pigeons in the 18th century, later extended to guided weapons.
a large vehicle equipped with beds, a kitchen, and other home-like facilities for living in while travelling.
Our family rented a motorhome for a road trip across the mountains.
The couple parked their motorhome by the beach and watched the sunset.
✦ mid 20th century: from motor + home.
