atrium
pronunciation
How to pronounce atrium in British English:
UK [ˈeɪtriəm]
How to pronounce atrium in American English:
US [ˈetriəm]
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- Noun:
- any chamber that is connected to other chambers or passageways (especially one of the two upper chambers of the heart)
- the central area in a building; open to the sky
Word Origin
- atrium (n.)
- 1570s, from Latin atrium "central court or main room of an ancient Roman house, room which contains the hearth," sometimes said (on authority of Varro, "De Lingua Latina") to be an Etruscan word, but perhaps from PIE *ater- "fire," on notion of "place where smoke from the hearth escapes" (through a hole in the roof). Anatomical sense of "either of the upper cavities of the heart" first recorded 1870. Meaning "skylit central court in a public building" first attested 1967.
Example
- 1. Horvitz , meanwhile , is especially concerned about the atrium .
- 2. The upper chamber on each side is called the atrium .
- 3. It leaves the air in the atrium feeling cleaner and lighter .
- 4. After logging in visitors will arrive in an atrium displaying a map of the exhibition with the names of participating galleries .
- 5. The best suites will overlook an atrium , where robotic squirrels will be the floor show .