–noun

1.	a state in the N central United States. 4,077,148; 84,068 sq. mi. (217,735 sq. km). Capital: St. Paul. Abbreviation: MN (for use with zip code), Minn.

2.	a river flowing SE from the W border of Minnesota into the Mississippi near St. Paul. 332 mi. (535 km) long.

–noun

1.	a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household.

2.	the place in which one's domestic affections are centered.

3.	an institution for the homeless, sick, etc.: a nursing home.

4.	the dwelling place or retreat of an animal.

5.	the place or region where something is native or most common.

6.	any place of residence or refuge: a heavenly home.

7.	a person's native place or own country.

8.	(in games) the destination or goal.

9.	a principal base of operations or activities: The new stadium will be the home of the local football team.

10.	Baseball. home plate.

11.	Lacrosse. one of three attack positions nearest the opposing goal.

–adjective

12.	of, pertaining to, or connected with one's home or country; domestic: home products.

13.	principal or main: the corporation's home office.

14.	reaching the mark aimed at: a home thrust.

15.	Sports. played in a ball park, arena, or the like, that is or is assumed to be the center of operations of a team: The pitcher didn't lose a single home game all season. Compare away (def. 11).

–adverb

16.	to, toward, or at home: to go home.

17.	deep; to the heart: The truth of the accusation struck home.

18.	to the mark or point aimed at: He drove the point home.

19.	Nautical. a. into the position desired; perfectly or to the greatest possible extent: sails sheeted home. b. in the proper, stowed position: The anchor is home. c. toward its vessel: to bring the anchor home.

–verb (used w 92b ithout object)

20.	to go or return home.

21.	(of guided missiles, aircraft, etc.) to proceed, esp. under control of an automatic aiming mechanism, toward a specified target, as a plane, missile, or location (often fol. by in on): The missile homed in on the target.

22.	to navigate toward a point by means of coordinates other than those given by altitudes.

23.	to have a home where specified; reside.

–verb (used with object)

24.	to bring or send home.

25.	to provide with a home.

26.	to direct, esp. under control of an automatic aiming device, toward an airport, target, etc.

—Idioms

27.

at home, a. in one's own house or place of residence. b. in one's own town or country. c. prepared or willing to receive social visits: Tell him I'm not at home. We are always at home to her. d. in a situation familiar to one; at ease: She has a way of making everyone feel at home. e. well-informed; proficient 235 : to be at home in the classics. f. played in one's hometown or on one's own grounds: The Yankees played two games at home and one away.

28.	bring home to, to make evident to; clarify or emphasize for: The irrevocabilit 5b4 y of her decision was brought home to her.

29.	home and dry, British Informal. having safely achieved one's goal.

30.	home free, a. assured of finishing, accomplishing, succeeding, etc.: If we can finish more than half the work today, we'll be home free. b. certain to be successfully finished, accomplished, secured, etc.: With most of the voters supporting it, the new law is home free.

31.	write home about, to comment especially on; remark on: The town was nothing to write home about. His cooking is really something to write home about.

–noun

1.	an act of improving or the state of being improved.

2.	a change or addition by which a thing is improved.

3.	a person or thing that represents an advance on another in excellence or achievement: The new landlord is a great improvement over his greedy predecessor.

4.	a bringing into a more valuable or desirable condition, as of land or real property; betterment.

5.	something done or added to real property that increases its value.

6.	profitable use, as of a period of time.

–noun

1.	the act of lending; a grant of the temporary use of something: the loan of a book.

2.	something lent or furnished on condition of being returned, esp. a sum of money lent at interest: a $1000 loan at 10 percent interest.

3.

loanword.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to make a loan of; lend: Will you loan me your umbrella?

5.	to lend (money) at interest.

–verb (used without object)

6.	to make a loan or loans; lend.

—Idiom

7.	on loan, a. borrowed for temporary use: How many books can I have on loan from the library at one time? b. temporarily provided or released by one's regular employer, superior, or owner for use by another: Our best actor is on loan to another movie studio for two films.