From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishholidayhol‧i‧day1 /ˈhɒlədi, -deɪ $ ˈhɑːlədeɪ/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 [countable, uncountable] British English (also holidays)HOLIDAY a time of rest from work, school etc SYN vacation American English The school holidays start tomorrow.on holiday I’m away on holiday until the 1st of June.in the holidays He came to stay with us in the school holidays.holiday from a holiday from her usual responsibilitiesRegisterIn everyday British English, when someone is temporarily away from their work or studies, people often say they are off, rather than on holiday. Note, however, that off can also mean that someone is away from their work or studies because they are sick:‘Where’s Kate?’ ‘She’s off this week.’2 [countable, uncountable] British English (also holidays)HOLIDAY a period of time when you travel to another place for pleasure SYN vacation American English We’re going to Spain for our holidays.on holiday He caught malaria while on holiday in Africa. I haven’t had a proper holiday for two years.3 HOLIDAY[countable] a day fixed by law on which people do not have to go to work or school The 4th of July is a national holiday in the US.4 → the holiday season → bank holiday, public holidayGRAMMAR: HolidaysYou use holidays when talking about a period when you are not working or studying, or when you are travelling. • You say the holidays: Soon it will be the holidays.• You say my/your/her etc holidays: Where do you want to go for your holidays? COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2verbsgo on holidayThe children were excited about going on holiday.have/take a holidayTeachers cannot take holidays during term time.book a holidayI booked the holiday online.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + holidaya skiing/camping/walking etc holidayThey went on a camping holiday in France.a package holiday (=a holiday in which you pay a price that includes travel, room, and food)The company organizes package holidays to Spain and Greece.a summer holidayThey were going to a house on the coast for their summer holidays.a winter holidayWhy not try a winter holiday for a change?a family holidayI first visited Orkney on a family holiday when I was a boy.an annual holiday (=a holiday you take every year)We were getting ready for our annual holiday in Cornwall.your dream holiday (=the best holiday you can imagine)They won a dream holiday for two to the Caribbean.holiday + NOUNa holiday resort (=a place with many hotels where a lot of people go on holiday)a holiday resort in Spaina holiday destination (=a town or country where a lot of people go on holiday)Marmaris is one of Turkey's most popular holiday destinations.a holiday brochure (=a magazine that shows what holidays you can take)We were looking through holiday brochures thinking about the summer.holiday photos (also holiday snaps informal) (=photographs that you take when you are on holiday)Do you want to see our holiday snaps?a holiday romance (=a brief romantic relationship with someone you meet on holiday)It was just a holiday romance; I never saw him again.a holiday abroad (=a holiday in a country other than the one you live in)They were planning a holiday abroad that year.phrasesthe holiday of a lifetime (=a very good or expensive holiday that you will only take once)We took the family on a holiday of a lifetime to Orlando, Florida.
Examples from the Corpus
holiday• Work has been so hectic - I really need a holiday.• We'd forgotten that July 14th was a holiday in France.• The roads are always busy on bank holidays.• Last year we spent most of the Christmas holiday at our grandma's.• It paid for the entire holiday.• As a boy, Luckett spent his holidays here in Ledsham.• St Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland.• Mrs Southey is on holiday in Florida.• This shop is closed on Sundays and public holidays.• France is the ideal place for a romantic holiday.• We try to do as many different activities as we can with the children during the school holidays.• July 20th is the first day of the summer holidays.• Evan Mecham was nixing the holiday honoring the Rev.• And what with Leo home for a part of the holidays, life had been wonderful.• The holiday is also celebrated with small gifts for children and the distribution of meat to the needy.• I get four weeks' holiday each year.• I had two weeks' holiday in Thailand last year.national holiday• After unification Oct. 3 replaced June 17 as a national holiday.• May Day was retained as a national holiday.• There is a built-in cooling-off period because Carnaval has been declared a national holiday and it extends until Tuesday.• July 1 is a national holiday in Canada.• My sister and I continue to be venerated by our people, who built shrines and declared national holidays in our honor.• On days of national holiday we had a parade, marching up and down and singing patriotic songs.• And as you head out to grab lunch, it seems as if an unofficial national holiday has been declared.• A few concerts were organised in connection with national holidays - for example on railworkers day or at officially sanctioned Youth parties.holidayholiday2 verb [intransitive] British EnglishHOLIDAY to spend your holiday in a place – used especially in news reports SYN vacation American Englishholiday in/at They’re holidaying in Majorca.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
holiday• If you are holidaying in Brittany this summer look for one in any local Maison de la Presse or Supermarché!• Alternatively you can join in activities on a daily basis if you live or are holidaying in the area.holiday in/at• Thomas Cook, for instance, sent over 5,500 pilgrims on holiday in 1985 through its Inter-Church travel firm subsidiary.• Instead she made do with a holiday in Cornwall with the kids.• So he found himself unexpectedly spending his holiday in the little port of Cassis.• John Major also flew out before the games ended for a villa holiday in the mountains west of Madrid.• Model told the officer they were on a caravanning holiday in the nearby New Forest.• But would people really want to spend all their holidays in the same place?• Her parents were due to go away on holiday at the start of the following week.• Can teachers take unpaid religious holidays at will?From Longman Business Dictionaryholidayhol‧i‧day /ˈhɒlədiˈhɑːlədeɪ/ noun1[countable] a day fixed by law on which people do not go to work or school and shops and businesses are closedThe Zurich stock market was closed yesterday for a national holiday.This Monday is a public holiday in France.The London stockmarket will reopen tomorrow after the bank holiday.2[countable, uncountable] a time of rest from work or school. Most employees are allowed a fixed number of days each year as paid holidaySYNvacation AmEMy secretary’s on holiday this week.You have to take your holiday by the end of the year.Most employees would like to have more holiday entitlement (=the right to take longer holidays).3[countable] (also holidays British English)TRAVEL a period of time spent in a place for pleasureSYNvacation AmEThey’re on holiday in the Caribbean.Make sure you have adequate holiday insurance before you leave.a popular holiday resort4[countable] a period of time when it is not necessary to make payments that must normally be made → contribution holiday → tax holidayOrigin holiday Old English haligdæg “holy day” 