mezzanine

[ mez-uh-neen, mez-uh-neen ]

noun

1. the lowest balcony or forward part of such a balcony in a theater.
2. a low story between two other stories of greater height in a building, especially when the low story and the one beneath it form part of one composition; an entresol.

mezzanine

/ ˈmɛtsəˌniːn; ˈmɛzəˌniːn /

noun

1. Also calledmezzanine floorentresol an intermediate storey, esp a low one between the ground and first floor of a building
2. theatre the first balcony
3. theatre a room or floor beneath the stage

adjective

1. of or relating to an intermediate stage in a financial process Often shortened tomezz

   mezzanine funding

Word History and Origins

Origin of mezzanine¹

1705–15; < French < Italian mezzanino, equivalent to mezzan ( o ) middle (< Latin mediānus median ) + -ino diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of mezzanine¹

C18: from French, from Italian, diminutive of mezzano middle, from Latin mediānus median

Example Sentences

The results prepare the ground for a boggling encounter upstairs on the museum’s mezzanine — an astonishingly plain installation of three mirrored walls.

From Los Angeles Times

United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which was raising capital for affordable housing, filled the gap with a $4.5-million second, or mezzanine, loan.

From Los Angeles Times

Staff will be on the mezzanines to explain changes and help people pay.

From Seattle Times

Frosted glass surfaces, bright colors and a mezzanine add a sense of airiness to the windowless book conservation lab.

From New York Times

The rest of the team, including Ismerai, will sit in the third mezzanine due to limited seating in the orchestra section, Proudfoot said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• balcony