lodge
lodge — noun
1. a simple building in the countryside or up in the mountains, used as a holiday h
a simple building in the countryside or up in the mountains, used as a holiday home or as a base for outdoor activities such as hunting, skiing, and fishing
Sofia rented a wooden lodge in the Alps for her winter holiday.
collocation: ski lodge / hunting lodge / holiday lodge
The old hunting lodge stood at the edge of the forest surrounded by pine trees.
Guests at the fishing lodge can borrow boats and equipment from the owner.
A stone lodge near the park entrance once belonged to the gamekeeper.
- ski lodge
- hunting lodge
- fishing lodge
- mountain lodge
- holiday lodge
Usage Note
Commonly combined with an activity word to show the type of lodge, e.g. ski lodge, hunting lodge, fishing lodge.
2. a structure built by beavers from sticks, mud, and stones in a river or lake, wh
a structure built by beavers from sticks, mud, and stones in a river or lake, where they live and raise their young
The beavers built their lodge from branches and mud on the riverbank.
collocation: beaver lodge
Inside the lodge, the beaver family stayed warm and safe through the winter.
Beavers repair their lodge each autumn by adding fresh mud and branches.
The entrance to a beaver lodge is usually underwater to keep predators out.
- beaver lodge
- build a lodge
3. a traditional dwelling used by some Native American peoples, built from material
a traditional dwelling used by some Native American peoples, built from materials such as wood, bark, or animal skins
The museum has a full-size model of a Native American lodge covered in birch bark.
collocation: Native American lodge
Several families shared one large lodge with a fire pit for cooking and warmth.
The tribe built a ceremonial lodge for important gatherings and storytelling.
Animal skins were stretched over the lodge's wooden frame to keep out the wind.
- communal lodge
- ceremonial lodge
- birch-bark lodge
Usage Note
When talking about history or culture, be specific about which nation's dwelling style you mean, as the shape and materials vary widely.
4. a local branch of certain societies or organizations, especially the Freemasons,
a local branch of certain societies or organizations, especially the Freemasons, or the building where such a group meets
The Freemasons lodge on Elm Street holds meetings every Thursday evening.
collocation: Freemasons lodge
Haruto joined the local lodge after a friend invited him to attend a meeting.
Each lodge sends representatives to the national conference once a year.
The lodge raised money for local charities through a community bake sale.
- Freemasons lodge
- Masonic lodge
- join a lodge
- lodge meeting
Usage Note
When the context is clear, the word alone may refer to a Freemasons lodge. Other fraternal groups (such as the Oddfellows) also use the term.
5. a small room just inside the main door of a hotel, school, or similar building,
a small room just inside the main door of a hotel, school, or similar building, where a staff member sits to help visitors or check who comes in and out
Leave your room key at the porter's lodge when you go out for the day.
collocation: porter's lodge
Visitors must report to the porter's lodge and sign in before entering the college.
The porter's lodge has a noticeboard where messages for students are pinned up.
Lost property is kept in the porter's lodge until the owner comes to collect it.
- porter's lodge
- leave at the lodge
- report to the lodge
- gatehouse
a small building at the entrance to a park or estate, where a guard or gatekeeper works
Usage Note
This sense is most common in British English, especially at universities and traditional hotels. In American English, 'security desk' or 'front desk' is more usual.
6. the family name of several well-known figures in American and British history, i
the family name of several well-known figures in American and British history, including politicians, a physicist, and a writer
Henry Cabot Lodge, a U.S. senator, strongly supported joining the League of Nations.
biographical name: prominent figures named Lodge
Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge was an English physicist who studied electricity and radio waves.
Henry Cabot Lodge served as U.S. ambassador to the UN in the 1950s.
Thomas Lodge was an English poet and writer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First.
Usage Note
This is not a definition of the word 'lodge' but an entry for historical figures who share this surname. The most widely known is Henry Cabot Lodge (1850–1924), an American statesman. His grandson Henry Cabot Lodge (1902–1985) was also a politician and diplomat. Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (1851–1940) was a physicist, and Thomas Lodge (1558–1625) was an English poet and dramatist.
lodge — verb
1. to formally present a complaint, protest, or appeal to an official person or org
to formally present a complaint, protest, or appeal to an official person or organization, asking them to take action
The residents lodged a formal complaint about the noise from the nightclub.
pattern: lodge a complaint/protest/appeal against
The company has lodged an appeal against the court's decision on the land dispute.
Liam lodged a protest with the city council over the new traffic regulations.
Several passengers lodged a complaint with the airline after their flight was cancelled.
- lodge a complaint
- lodge a protest
- lodge an appeal
- lodge a grievance
- lodge a claim
- lodge with
- withdraw
to take back a complaint or appeal that has been made
Grammar Patterns
lodge + a complaint/protest/appeal + against + noun
lodge + something + with + noun
Usage Note
Frequently used in legal and administrative contexts. 'Lodge' in this sense is more formal than 'make' or 'file'. The object is almost always a complaint, protest, appeal, grievance, or claim.
Common Mistakes
2. to get stuck tightly in a narrow space so that free movement is impossible, or t
to get stuck tightly in a narrow space so that free movement is impossible, or to push something firmly into such a spot
A fish bone lodged in Caleb's throat and made it hard for him to swallow.
pattern: become lodged in [place]
The kite became lodged in the branches of a tall oak tree near the school.
A piece of gravel lodged between the tyre treads and caused a strange noise.
A broken key lodged inside the lock and the door would not open.
- lodge in
- become lodged
- get lodged
- lodge into
- dislodge
to remove something that is stuck
Grammar Patterns
lodge in/into + noun
become lodged in/into + noun
lodge + object + in/into + noun
Usage Note
Often describes something small or sharp getting stuck in a narrow space (e.g., a bone in the throat, a bullet in the body, a key in a lock). The passive form 'become/get lodged' is very common.
3. to leave something valuable with a person or in a secure location so that it wil
to leave something valuable with a person or in a secure location so that it will be looked after
Yumi lodged her passport and money in the hotel safe before going to the beach.
pattern: lodge something in/with [safe place]
The original contract was lodged with a lawyer for safekeeping.
Copies of the report were lodged at the city archives for public access.
Sari lodged her grandmother's ring in a safety deposit box at the bank.
- lodge with
- lodge in
- lodge at
- lodge a document
- lodge money
- withdraw
to take back money or documents that had been deposited
Grammar Patterns
lodge + object + in/with + noun
Usage Note
Often used for documents, money, or valuables placed somewhere secure. 'Lodge' in this sense is more formal than 'put' or 'keep'. The pattern 'lodge with + person/institution' is common for legal documents.
4. to pay money to live temporarily in a room in someone else's house
to pay money to live temporarily in a room in someone else's house
During the summer, Padma lodged with a family in Brighton to practise her English.
pattern: lodge with [person] / at [place]
The visiting professor lodged at a guesthouse near the university campus.
Many students lodge in shared houses close to the city centre during term time.
Élise lodged in a small flat above a bakery during her internship in Paris.
- lodge with
- lodge at
- lodge in
- lodge together
Grammar Patterns
lodge with + person
lodge at + place
Usage Note
This sense is more common in British English. The person who pays to stay is called a 'lodger'. The noun form 'lodgings' refers to the rooms themselves.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- lodgernounB2
- lodgingnounB2
- lodgingsnounB2
- lodgedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words can be used with 'complaint', 'protest', or 'appeal', but they differ in formality and focus. 'Lodge' (the most formal) suggests a formal, usually written, submission to an authority — especially in British English, e.g. 'lodge a complaint with the council'. 'File' is more common in American English and suggests the paperwork is officially recorded, as in 'file a lawsuit'. 'Submit' is neutral and general, used when you give something to an official body for consideration, without the legal weight of 'lodge' or 'file'. 'Register' implies that the complaint is formally noted or recorded in an official system, e.g. 'register an objection'. 'Make' is the everyday, informal choice: 'make a complaint' is the simplest and most common in speech. For learner purposes: use 'lodge' in formal written complaints, 'make' in conversation, and 'file' when legal proceedings are involved.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'lodge' comes from Old French 'loge' meaning a shelter or small hut. This goes back to Frankish 'laubija', which was a shelter made from leaves and branches (related to the word 'leaf'). The verb meanings developed from the idea of putting something or someone in a shelter for safety. The surnames of people called Lodge come from this same word, referring to someone who lived near or worked at a lodge.