ware|house

ware|house «noun. WAIR _HOWS; verb. WAIR _HOWZ, -_HOWS», noun, verb, -housed, -hous|ing.

–n.

1. a place where goods are kept, especially in large quantities; storehouse. SYNONYM(S): depot, depository, entrepôt.

2. Especially British. a) a store where goods are sold wholesale. b) a large retail establishment.

3. U.S. any large public facility for the care of people, especially the mentally ill, the aged, or the poor: »

We ought to protect our families…from the misery of their simply “existing” (not living) in a nearby “warehouse” or public institution (Joseph Fletcher).

–v.t.

1. to put or deposit in a warehouse, as for storage.

2. to place in a bonded warehouse, or in government or customhouse custody, to be kept until duties are paid.

3. to commit to a large public facility for the care of people, especially those who are too ill, old, or poor to take care of themselves: »

The country continues its “trend away from large custodial institutions where people are warehoused and where they are denied the opportunity to develop their full potential,” Dr. Philip Roos said (Tuscaloosa News).