interior

[ in-teer-ee-er ]

adjective

1. being within; inside of anything; internal; inner; further toward a center:

   the interior rooms of a house.

   Antonyms: exterior

2. of or relating to that which is within; inside:

   an interior view.

3. situated well inland from the coast or border:

   the interior towns of a country.

4. of or relating to the inland.
5. domestic:

   interior trade.

6. private or hidden; inner:

   interior negotiations of the council.

7. pertaining to the mind or soul; mental or spiritual:

   the interior life.

noun

1. the internal or inner part; inside.

   Antonyms: exterior

2. Architecture.
   1. the inside part of a building, considered as a whole from the point of view of artistic design or general effect, convenience, etc.
   2. a single room or apartment so considered.
3. a pictorial representation of the inside of a room.
4. the inland parts of a region, country, etc.:

   the Alaskan interior.

5. the domestic affairs of a country as distinguished from its foreign affairs:

   the Department of the Interior.

6. the inner or inward nature or character of anything.
7. Mathematics. the largest open set contained in a given set, as the points in a circle not including the boundary.

Interior

¹

/ ɪnˈtɪərɪə /

noun

1. the Interior
   in titles the domestic or internal affairs of any of certain countries

   Department of the Interior

interior

²

/ ɪnˈtɪərɪə /

noun

1. a part, surface, or region that is inside or on the inside

   the interior of Africa

2. inner character or nature
3. a film or scene shot inside a building, studio, etc
4. a picture of the inside of a room or building, as in a painting or stage design
5. the inside of a building or room, with respect to design and decoration

adjective

1. of, situated on, or suitable for the inside; inner
2. coming or acting from within; internal
3. of or involving a nation's domestic affairs; internal
4. (esp of one's spiritual or mental life) secret or private; not observable

Derived Forms

• inˈteriorly, adverb

Other Words From

• in·te·ri·or·i·ty [in-teer-ee-, awr, -i-tee, -, or, -], noun
• in·teri·or·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of interior¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin, comparative adjective equivalent to inter- “inward” + -ior comparative suffix; exterior

Word History and Origins

Origin of interior¹

C15: from Latin (adj), comparative of inter within

Synonym Study

See inside.

Example Sentences

Marriott is a commercial interior designer who now lives in Portland, Ore., but grew up in Arcadia.

From Los Angeles Times

But for the song to work its magic in the musical, Albin’s interior life must poke through the makeup, dresses and temperamental diva histrionics.

From Los Angeles Times

A wholly unexpected focus on those modest and hidden internal body parts in his neck insinuates Jerome’s interior anguish, an emotional experience that cannot be seen inside his head.

From Los Angeles Times

The interior of this ring -- in general -- forms the cavity or pore where only certain substances "fit."

From Science Daily

Eventually Carlos Mazón sought to explain why he had not gone to the Operational Coordination Centre until 19:00 on the evening of the flood as the regional interior minister Salomé Pradas was already there.

From BBC