library meaning, definition, and synonyms

A library is most often a place where books and other materials are kept for reading or borrowing. It can also mean a room in a house with books, or, in computing, a collection of ready-to-use programs.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /ˈlaɪˌbrɛri/

Easy pronunciation: LY-breh-ree (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress the first syllable.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Library Meaning

a place where people go to read, study, or borrow books

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a building that houses a collection of books and other materials

Example: I met her at the library to study for the exam.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Library

Meaning 2

a collection kept for reading and study

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a depository built to contain books and other materials for reading and study

Example: The university maintains a special library for rare books.

Synonyms for this meaning:

depository library — Works as a term for this sense, though it is more specific than the everyday word library.

Meaning 3

a set of code routines a program can use

Part of speech: noun

Definition: (computing) a collection of standard programs and subroutines that are stored and available for immediate use

Example: The app relies on a graphics library for image processing.

Synonyms for this meaning:

program library — Direct match for the computing sense.
subroutine library — Direct match for the computing sense.

Meaning 4

a collection of documents kept for reference

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a collection of literary documents or records kept for reference or borrowing

Example: The archive includes a library of old legal records.

Meaning 5

a room in a house or building where books are stored

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a room where books are kept

Example: They had brandy in the library.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Library Synonyms

Similar Meaning

bookroom
reading room

computing sense

program library
subroutine library

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Do not use library to mean a bookstore; a library is usually for reading, studying, or borrowing, not buying books.
In computing, library means a code collection, not a physical building.
The word can also mean a room with books, especially in a house or old-style building.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the basic meaning of library?

The most common meaning is a place where books and other materials are kept for people to read, study, or borrow.

What are synonyms for library?

For the main sense, strong everyday substitutes are limited. In special contexts, the computing senses can be called a program library or a subroutine library.

Can library mean a room?

Yes. It can also mean a room in a house or building where books are kept.

Does library have a computing meaning?

Yes. In computing, a library is a collection of ready-to-use code routines or programs.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.