From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishheirloomheir‧loom1 /ˈeəluːm $ ˈer-/ noun [countable] DHFAMILYa valuable object that has been owned by a family for many years and that is passed from the older members to the younger members a family heirloom
Examples from the Corpus
heirloom• The spacious dining room is often sunny and is filled with antiques and heirlooms.• Furthermore, they did not retain these primal practices merely as heirlooms.• The antis say it's an atomic eyesore ... a dangerous heirloom to leave future generations.• Bagpipes are considered family heirlooms and the pipers provide their own.• For Armstrong aficionados, a golden heirloom.• Old heirloom lace was at her throat and wrists.• The blade Fearfrost is the heirloom of the Tzarinas of Kislev.heirloomheirloom2 adjective [only before noun] an heirloom vegetable or plant is one of a kind that was first grown many years ago, and has now become rare or unusual SYN heritage They sell many kinds of heirloom seeds.From Longman Business Dictionaryheirloomheir‧loom /ˈeəluːmˈer-/ noun [countable] a valuable object that has been owned by a family for many years and that is passed, for example, from grandfather to father to sonThe clock is a family heirloom.Origin heirloom (1400-1500) heir + loom “tool” ((10-19 centuries)) 