room

[ room, room ]

noun

1. a portion of space within a building or other structure, separated by walls or partitions from other parts:

   a dining room.

2. rooms, lodgings or quarters, as in a house or building.
3. the persons present in a room:

   The whole room laughed.

4. space or extent of space occupied by or available for something:

   The desk takes up too much room.

5. opportunity or scope for something:

   room for improvement; room for doubt.

   Synonyms: allowance, margin, provision

6. status or a station in life considered as a place:

   He fought for room at the top.

7. capacity:

   Her brain had no room for trivia.

8. Mining. a working area cut between pillars.

verb (used without object)

1. to occupy a room or rooms; lodge.

room

/ ruːm; rʊm /

noun

1. space or extent, esp unoccupied or unobstructed space for a particular purpose

   is there room to pass?

2. an area within a building enclosed by a floor, a ceiling, and walls or partitions

   sitting room

   dining room

3. functioning as singular or plural the people present in a room

   the whole room was laughing

4. foll by for opportunity or scope

   room for manoeuvre

5. plural a part of a house, hotel, etc, that is rented out as separate accommodation; lodgings

   she got rooms in town

6. a euphemistic word for lavatory

verb

1. intr to occupy or share a room or lodging

   where does he room?

Derived Forms

• ˈroomer, noun

Other Words From

• under·room noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of room¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English roum(e), Old English rūm; cognate with Dutch ruim, German Raum

Word History and Origins

Origin of room¹

Old English rūm ; related to Gothic, Old High German rūm

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with room , also see not enough room to swing a cat ; take up space (room) .

Example Sentences

When he transferred to USC this past January, he stepped into a locker room that already had an entrenched leader at quarterback in Miller Moss.

From Los Angeles Times

“When we first filmed it glowing ... everyone in the control room let out a loud ‘Oooooh!’ at the same time.

From Los Angeles Times

She shared, "I'd know he'd be very angry. I saw him throw so many scripts across the room. Frustration, anger and lost a little bit on where his career was going. Because those were not the roles he wanted."

From Salon

And some of his most destructive work, like accelerating the Iranian nuclear program by pulling out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018, or imposing economic sanctions on Venezuela so severe that they catalyzed a mass migration to the United States that he was able to blame on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, were the equivalent of planting bombs that go off long after you’ve left the room.

From Slate

On the other, no one inside the Lakers locker room would dare compare the two, the first definitely still a novelty the Lakers would’ve happily traded, prize money and all, for even a long shot chance to win the big title in the spring.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accommodation
• apartment
• cabin
• cave
• chamber
• cubicle
• den
• lodging
• office
• suite