noun

library

LEYE-bree

noun

A building or institution that holds books and other media for people to borrow or use.

"She spent every Saturday at the local library."

"The university library stays open late during exam season."

A collection of books, recordings, or other stored information, whether physical or digital.

"His personal library filled three rooms of the house."

A collection of reusable software code that programs can call on for common functions.

"The app relies on a graphics library to render its animations."

How to Use Library

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA place, or collection, of books and information — or, in computing, a bundle of reusable code.

Common mistake

In French, Spanish, and Italian, the equivalent word (librairie, librería, libreria) means "bookshop," not "library" — a classic false friend for language learners.

Common pairings

public library library card software library library book

Word Forms

libraries plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She spent every Saturday at the local _____.

Etymology

From Old French librairie, from Latin librarium, "bookcase," from liber, "book" (originally the inner bark of a tree, used as an early writing surface). Interestingly, the Romance-language descendants (French librairie, Italian libreria) came to mean "bookshop" instead — only English kept the "collection you borrow from" sense.

Rhymes for library

vary Mary nary wary Gary Cary diary ovary weary scary teary deary

See all rhymes for library →