honour

1 BrE honor AmE noun

1 RESPECT (U) the respect that you, your family, your country etc receive from other people, which makes you feel proud: For the French team, winning tomorrow's game is a matter of national honour. | sb's honour is at stake (=someone's honour could be badly affected if they do not succeed): This can't get to the media. The company's honor is at stake here!

2 STH THAT MAKES YOU PROUD (singular) formal something that makes you feel very proud: it is an honour to do sth (=used when saying politely that you are pleased to do something, especially at a formal occasion) | have the honour of doing sth formal: Earlier this year I had the honor of meeting the President and Mrs Clinton. | do sb the honour of doing sth (=make someone proud and happy by doing something for them) | a rare honour (=a very special honour)

3 in honour of in order to show how much you admire and respect someone: a memorial in honour of those who died for their country

4 GIVEN BY A GOVERNMENT (C) something such as a special title or medal given to someone to show how much people respect them for what they have achieved: highest honour (=most important honour): Churchill received many of his country's highest honours.

5 the place/seat of honour the place which is given to the most important guest

6 be an honour to to bring admiration and respect to your country, school, family etc because of your behaviour or achievements: a young man who was a great athlete and an honour to his college

7 with full military honours if someone is buried with full military honours, there is a military ceremony at their funeral

8 MORAL PRINCIPLES (U) strong moral beliefs and standards of behaviour that make people respect and trust you: a matter/point/question of honour (=something that you feel you must do because of your moral principles): It is a point of honour with me to repay all my debts promptly. | man of honour old-fashioned (=a man who always behaves in a way that is based on high moral standards)

9 be/feel honour bound to feel that it is your moral duty to do something: Don't tell Kit either, because she'd feel honor bound to do something about it.

10 on your honour

a) if you swear on your honour to do something, you promise very seriously to do it

b) old-fashioned if you are on your honour to do something, you are being trusted to do it

11 do the honours spoken to pour the drinks, serve food etc at a social occasion

12 UNIVERSITY BrE with honours

a) if you pass a university degree with honours, you pass it at a level that is higher than the most basic level

b) First Class/Second Class Honours the highest or second highest level of degree at a British university

13 Your Honour used when speaking to a judge

14 SEX old use if a woman loses her honour, she has sex with a man she is not married to

—see also: guest of honour guest 1 (6), maid of honour 2 BrE honor AmE verb (T)

1 be/feel honoured to feel very proud and pleased: be/feel honoured to do sth: I felt deeply honored to be playing against the former Wimbledon Champion.

2 to treat someone with special respect: our honoured guests this evening

3 formal to show publicly that someone is respected and admired, especially by praising them or giving them a special title

4 honour a contract/agreement etc to do what you have agreed to do in a contract etc

5 honour a cheque/voucher etc to accept a cheque etc as payment

6 sb has decided to honour us with their presence humorous used when someone arrives late, or to someone who rarely comes to a meeting, class etc