-'s

1

1 the short form of `is': John's here. | What's that? | She's writing a letter.

2 the short form of `has': Polly's gone out. | A spider's got eight legs.

3 a short form of `does' used in questions after who, what etc and that many people think is incorrect: How's he plan to do it?

—compare ­'d

4 a short form of `us' used only in `let's'

2 suffix

1 forms the possessive case of singular nouns, and of plural nouns that do not end in -s: my sister's husband | Mary's generosity | yesterday's lesson | the children's bedroom | the man in the corner's coat (=the coat belonging to the man in the corner)

2 BrE the shop or home of someone: I bought it at the baker's (=at the baker's shop) | I met him at Mary's (=at Mary's house)