casino
UK[kəˈsiːnəʊ]US[kəˈsiːnoʊ]
n
a public room or building where people play gambling games for money
n
a facility for certain social activities, especially one including a restaurant, nightclub, and gambling games
Etymology
the word 'casino' entered english in the mid-18th century directly from italian, where 'casino' originally meant a small country villa, summerhouse, or social club. the italian term is a diminutive of 'casa', meaning 'house', which derives from the latin 'casa' (hut, cottage). the shift in meaning from a small pleasure villa to a gambling establishment occurred in italian during the 19th century, as such villas or clubhouses were often used for social gatherings that included music, dancing, and games of chance. english borrowed the term with this newer, specialized meaning, solidifying its association with gambling.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from italian, adopted as a whole lexical unit into english. it does not contain separable morphemes based on its current english spelling.
Examples
they spent the evening at the casino playing blackjack and roulette.
the new resort features a luxury hotel, several restaurants, and a large casino.
he lost a significant amount of money at the casino last weekend.