house•wife
Pronunciation: (hous'wīf" or, usually, huz'if for 2), [key]
— n., pl. v., -wives -wifed, -wif•ing.
—n.
- a married woman who manages her own household, esp. as her principal occupation.
- a sewing box; a small case or box for needles, thread, etc.
—v.t., v.i.
- to manage with efficiency and economy, as a household.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.