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HOOV-uh/ˈhuːvə/

A hoover is a vacuum cleaner in everyday UK English. Hoover began as a brand, like tupperware for food boxes, and now names the machine in many homes. It is also a verb: hoover the carpet / hoover up the crumbs. US English usually keeps vacuum (cleaner) as both noun and verb. Countable as a machine: a hoover / two hoovers.

Meaning

A vacuum cleaner (UK; also a verb; originally a brand name).

Examples

• “The hoover is in the cupboard under the stairs.”
• “Give the stairs a quick hoover before people take their shoes off.”
• “The hoover bag is full, so it has stopped picking up cat hair.”

Good to know

a hoover (UK, often genericised brand). Verb: hoover the carpet. US: a vacuum / to vacuum.

Near in meaning

vacuum cleaner

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