ENGLISH
REFERENCE

maid

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈmeɪd// UK //mˈeɪd// maid Archaic Literary

n. a woman who works as a professional cleaner in a hotel or a large private house. You usually see them in places where people pay for cleaning services.

n. a female domestic worker employed to perform cleaning and maintenance tasks in a household or commercial establishment. Often used in modern contexts specifically for hotel staff or as a historical reference to domestic service.


SIMPLE

The hotel maid brings fresh towels every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

After the guests checked out, the maid arrived to deep clean the suite and restock the minibar.

COMPLEX

While the role of the live-in maid has largely vanished from middle-class households, the hospitality industry remains dependent on professional cleaning staff to maintain rigorous hygiene standards.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English mayde, maide, abbreviation of Middle English maiden from Old English mæġden (Old English mǣden). Ultimately from Proto-West Germanic magaþ, from Proto-Germanic magaþs (“girl, virgin”).

Usage

Commonly used in the compound 'hotel maid' or 'chambermaid'; in private homes, 'housekeeper' or 'cleaner' is now more frequent.

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