honor

hon|or1 [ `anər ] noun **

▸ 1 respect for what you do

▸ 2 moral belief/practice

▸ 3 something you are proud to do

▸ 4 prize for achievement

▸ 5 virginity

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) uncount the respect that people have for someone who achieves something great, who is very powerful, or who behaves in a way that is morally right:

Shame and honor were what motivated people.

His leadership has upheld the honor of the union through many difficult periods.

2. ) uncount the behavior of someone who has high moral standards: INTEGRITY:

It's not just a legal matter, it's a matter of honor!

a ) honor bound if you feel honor bound to do something, you think that you must do it because it is morally right:

I was honor bound to rescue them.

b ) on my honor used when someone is promising to do something:

On my honor, I'll keep this secret forever.

3. ) count singular something you do that you are proud of:

be an honor: Performing at the Grand Ole Opry is an honor for any singer.

be an honor to do something: It's a great honor to be invited here tonight.

a ) do someone the honor of doing something FORMAL to do something that would make another person very proud:

Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner?

b ) have the honor of doing something FORMAL used for saying that you are proud to be able to do something:

I have the distinct honor and privilege of introducing the president of the United States.

I had the honor of serving my country as an ambassador.

4. ) count often plural a prize that someone is given because they have achieved something important:

Bob Dylan was among the recipients of the annual Kennedy Center honors.

top/highest honors (=the most important honors): The romantic comedy received top honors at the Golden Globe Awards presentation last night.

5. ) OLD-FASHIONED a woman's VIRGINITY (=the fact that she has never had sex) or, if she is married, that she has never had sex with anyone except her husband

do the honors

to be the person at a special event or social occasion who is in charge or who performs any ceremonies

in honor of

in order to show respect and admiration for someone or something:

St. Petersburg was renamed Leningrad in honor of Lenin after his death.

In honor of the occasion, Mozart was to write a short piece of music.

Your Honor

used when talking to a judge in a court of law

=> HONORS

honor

hon|or 2 [ `anər ] verb transitive **

1. ) to show your respect or admiration for someone, especially by giving them a prize or title, or by praising them publicly:

She will be honored for her work in promoting friendship between the two countries.

We are here today to honor the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

2. ) to do what you said you would do or what you promised to do:

honor a promise/pledge/commitment: The government will honor its promise to give this land back to the Native Americans.

honor a contract/agreement: Once a contract has been signed, it has to be honored.

honor a check/credit card

if a bank honors a check or a store honors a credit card, they accept the check or credit card as if it were money