HOSPITABLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does hospitable mean? 

• HOSPITABLE (adjective)
  The adjective HOSPITABLE has 3 senses:

1. favorable to life and growth

2. disposed to treat guests and strangers with cordiality and generosity

3. having an open mind

  Familiarity information: HOSPITABLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOSPITABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Favorable to life and growth

Context example:

a hospitable environment

Similar:

genial; kind (agreeable, conducive to comfort)

Antonym:

inhospitable (unfavorable to life or growth)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Disposed to treat guests and strangers with cordiality and generosity

Context example:

hospitable invitations

Similar:

welcoming (very cordial)

Also:

friendly (characteristic of or befitting a friend)

Antonym:

inhospitable (not hospitable)

Derivation:

hospitableness (having a disposition that welcomes guests and is fond of entertaining)

hospitality (kindness in welcoming guests or strangers)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having an open mind

Context example:

open to suggestions

Similar:

open; receptive (ready or willing to receive favorably)

 Context examples 

We are very hospitable upon the Ghost.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

They are hospitable, with true Yorkshire hospitality: give a guest everything, and leave him free to do as he likes.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mr. Peggotty and Ham knew what was in my thoughts as well as I did, and were ready with some supper and their hospitable faces to drive it away.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I would never marry after threescore, but live in a hospitable manner, yet still on the saving side.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Such a planet could be quite hospitable if located at the right distance from its two stars, and wouldn't necessarily even have deserts.

(Earth-Sized 'Tatooine' Planets Could Be Habitable, NASA)

SIR JAMES OVINGTON’S carriage was waiting without, and in it the Avon family, so tragically separated and so strangely re-united, were borne away to the squire’s hospitable home.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A further implication is that Earth might not be optimally habitable—and life elsewhere may enjoy a planet that is even more hospitable than our own.

(Some Exoplanets May Have Greater Variety of Life than Exists on Earth, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The hospitable Americans had invited every acquaintance they had in Nice, and having no prejudice against titles, secured a few to add luster to their Christmas ball.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I had lit their candles to go upstairs, but Diana had first to give hospitable orders respecting the driver; this done, both followed me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mr and Mrs Musgrove were a very good sort of people; friendly and hospitable, not much educated, and not at all elegant.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)