a raised area, often having a stepped or sloping floor, in a theater, church, or other public building to accommodate spectators, exhibits, etc.
the uppermost of such areas in a theater, usually containing the cheapest seats.
the occupants of such an area in a theater.
the general public, especially when regarded as having popular or uncultivated tastes.
any group of spectators or observers, as at a golf match, a Congressional session, etc.
a room, series of rooms, or building devoted to the exhibition and often the sale of works of art.
a long covered area, narrow and open at one or both sides, used especially as a walk or corridor.
Chiefly South Atlantic States. a long porch or portico; veranda.
a long, relatively narrow room, especially one for public use.
a corridor, especially one having architectural importance through its scale or decorative treatment.
a raised, balconylike platform or passageway running along the exterior wall of a building inside or outside.
a large room or building used for photography, target practice, or other special purposes: a shooting gallery.
a collection of art for exhibition.
Theater. a narrow, raised platform located beyond the acting area, used by stagehands or technicians to stand on when working.
Nautical. a projecting balcony or structure on the quarter or stern of a vessel.
Furniture. an ornamental railing or cresting surrounding the top of a table, stand, desk, etc.
Mining. a level or drift.
a small tunnel in a dam, mine, or rock, for various purposes, as inspection or drainage.
a passageway made by an animal.
FortificationObsolete. an underground or covered passage to another part of a fortified position.
Idioms for gallery
play to the gallery, to attempt to appeal to the popular taste, as opposed to a more refined or esoteric taste: Movies, though still playing mainly to the gallery, have taken their place as a significant art form.
Origin of gallery
1400–50; late Middle English <Old French galerie<Medieval Latin galeria, by dissimilation or suffix replacement from galilea, galilæagalilee
"I'm going into the cabin," he said, as the airship righted again and brought back the gallery floor to his feet.
The War in the Air|Herbert George Wells
Already our man had gone round the gallery and the corridor was all in darkness.
The Hound of the Baskervilles|A. Conan Doyle
Like one possessed by a sudden fancy he rushed down the gallery to find all fast and empty, and to return looking very strangely.
The Abbot's Ghost, Or Maurice Treherne's Temptation|A. M. Barnard
Glaring round, in search of a hydra which did not smile, the speaker discovered it in the reporters' gallery.
The Red Room|August Strindberg
This gallery, at the remote end from the body of the castle, closes with a stair case.
Secresy|E. (Eliza) Fenwick
British Dictionary definitions for gallery
gallery
/ (ˈɡælərɪ) /
nounplural-leries
a room or building for exhibiting works of art
a covered passageway open on one side or on both sidesSee also colonnade (def. 1)
a balcony running along or around the inside wall of a church, hall, etc
a covered balcony, sometimes with columns on the outside
theatre
an upper floor that projects from the rear over the main floor and contains the cheapest seats
the seats there
the audience seated there
a long narrow room, esp one used for a specific purposea shooting gallery
mainlyUSa building or room where articles are sold at auction
an underground passage, as in a mine, the burrow of an animal, etc
theatrea narrow raised platform at the side or along the back of the stage for the use of technicians and stagehands
(in a TV studio) a glass-fronted soundproof room high up to one side of the studio looking into it. One gallery is used by the director and an assistant and one is for lighting, etc
nauticala balcony or platform at the quarter or stern of a ship, sometimes used as a gun emplacement
a small ornamental metal or wooden balustrade or railing on a piece of furniture, esp one surrounding the top of a desk, table, etc
any group of spectators, as at a golf match
play to the galleryto try to gain popular favour, esp by crude appeals
Word Origin for gallery
C15: from Old French galerie, from Medieval Latin galeria, probably from galileagalilee, a porch or chapel at entrance to medieval church