office

Everyday

1. An office is a room or building where people work at desks, often with computers and papers. tree →
2. The school office is where the secretary or receptionist works and visitors sign in. tree →
3. An office is a building where a service is given, like a post office or a ticket office. tree →
4. An office is an important job or position, like the office of president. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday school life, you go to the school office if you feel ill, are late, or need to call home; visitors must sign in there. In safety, if you are lost in a shopping centre, go to an information office or a shop desk. In social studies, people "take office" or "hold office" when elected. Phrases: post office, head teacher's office, office worker, box office, in office.

Examples

• My mum works in an office in town. tree →
• Take this note to the school office. tree →
• We bought stamps at the post office. tree →
• Visitors must sign in at the office. tree →
• The box office sells tickets for the show. tree →
• The President took office in January. tree →

Note

"An office", with "an". "Office" for a job (in office) is formal. In the USA the head teacher is usually called the principal, and the school office is the main office. A doctor's office in the USA is called a surgery in the UK.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means a sacred job or duty, especially serving as a priest, or the post Joseph said was given back to the butler.

Interpretation. Tradition holds that the priesthood passes in Aaron's family, and that anointing and special clothing set the priests apart for this service.

Examples

• And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto Me in the priest's office. (Torah EXO.30.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was: I was restored unto mine office, and he was hanged.' (Torah GEN.41.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. (Torah NUM.3.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• for the four chief porters were in a set office. (Writings 1CH.9.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. (Writings 1CH.9.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. (Writings 1CH.24.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

"An office", with "an". "Office" for a job (in office) is formal. In the USA the head teacher is usually called the principal, and the school office is the main office. A doctor's office in the USA is called a surgery in the UK.