noun

1. a woman who entertains guests either at home or elsewhere; sometimes, the wife of a host
2. a woman innkeeper or the wife of an innkeeper
3. 1. a woman whose work is seeing that guests or travelers are comfortable, as in a lodge
   2. a woman employed in a restaurant to supervise serving, often in charge of reservations and of seating patrons
   3. a woman who serves as a paid partner at a public dance hall

Etymology: ME < OFr hostesse, fem. of hoste, host

intransitive verb, transitive verb