holiday

I UK [ˈhɒlɪdeɪ] / US [ˈhɑlɪˌdeɪ] noun
Word forms "holiday":
singular holiday plural holidays
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Differences between British and American English: holiday:

In the UK, a holiday, often called your holidays, is a period of time during which you do not go to school or work, and usually you go to a place away from home to relax: Where are you going for your holiday? American speakers call this period a vacation. In the US, holiday refers to a single day fixed by law when people do not have to go to school or work: I forgot that Monday's a holiday. In the UK, this is usually called a bank holiday. Both American and English speakers also call this a public holiday. When American speakers say the holidays or the holiday season, they are referring to the period of time that includes Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Day: Have you got any special plans for the holidays?

1)

a) [countable, often plural] British a period of time when you do not work or study and do things for pleasure instead. The American word is vacation

They're going to Jamaica for their holidays.

be on holiday (= not working):

I am away on holiday for the next two weeks.

the Christmas/Easter/summer holidays:

The kids get bored by the end of the summer holidays.

b) [countable] an occasion when you go and stay in another place for pleasure

a golfing/skiing/seaside holiday

a holiday resort

Our trip to Victoria Falls was the holiday of a lifetime (= a very special holiday).

go on holiday:

Several years ago, I went on holiday with some friends.

2) [countable] a day that is a celebration of something special, on which you do not have to work or go to school

1st May is a holiday in many European countries.

See:

bank holiday

3) [uncountable] British the number of days or weeks during a year when you do not have to work but are paid. The American word is vacation

Employees are entitled to four weeks' annual holiday.

II UK [ˈhɒlɪdeɪ] / US [ˈhɑlɪˌdeɪ] verb [intransitive]
Word forms "holiday":
present tense I/you/we/they holiday he/she/it holidays present participle holidaying past tense holidayed past participle holidayed British

to be on holiday in a particular place. The American word is vacation.

holiday in/at:

They're holidaying in Corsica.