avocation
(redirected from avocations)Also found in: Thesaurus.
avocation
a hobby in addition to a principal occupation: The judge’s avocation is acting in little theater productions.; a person’s regular occupation or calling
Not to be confused with:
evocation – a calling forth: an evocation of earlier times
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
av·o·ca·tion
(ăv′ō-kā′shən)n.
An activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment; a hobby.
[Latin āvocātiō, āvocātiōn-, diversion, from āvocātus, past participle of āvocāre, to call away : ā-, ab-, away; see ab-1 + vocāre, to call; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.]
av′o·ca′tion·al adj.
av′o·ca′tion·al·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
avocation
(ˌævəˈkeɪʃən)n
1. formal a minor occupation undertaken as a diversion
2. not standard a person's regular job or vocation
[C17: from Latin āvocātiō a calling away, diversion from, from āvocāre to distract, from vocāre to call]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
av•o•ca•tion
(ˌæv əˈkeɪ ʃən)n.
1. something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, esp. for pleasure; hobby.
2. a person's regular occupation or calling; vocation.
3. Archaic. diversion or distraction.
[1520–30; < Latin āvocātiō distraction]
av`o•ca′tion•al, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() pastime, pursuit, interest - a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits" spelaeology, speleology - the pastime of exploring caves |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
avocation
[ˌævəʊˈkeɪʃən] N (frm) (= minor occupation) → diversión f, distracción f; (= employment) → vocación fCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
avocation
n (form: = calling) → Berufung f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007