hostess: Meaning and Definition of

host•ess

Pronunciation: (hō'stis), [key]
— n.
  1. a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.
  2. a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.
  3. a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.
  4. a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.
  5. a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.
  6. See
—v.t.
  1. to be the hostess at (a reception, dinner, etc.): She will hostess a shower for the new bride.
  2. to act as hostess at, to, or for: She volunteered to hostess the garden club next season.
—v.i.
  1. to perform the duties or functions of a hostess.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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