dormitory
/ˈdɔːmɪt(ə)ri
/noun (plural dormitories)
1A large bedroom for a number of people in a school or institution: he visited the boarders in their dormitory...
- Before mass started, the First Lady toured the school and saw her former class room and the dormitory where she used to sleep.
- Inmates sleep in either bedrooms or dormitories and there is no lock down at night.
- In 1879 another wing was added to the school with extra dormitories and classrooms.
1.1North American A university or college hall of residence or hostel.Players hang out together and reside in college campus dormitories....
- Two weeks later I was living in a dormitory at the University, dating fraternity boys and trying to figure out why I hated it so much.
- Reducing environmental noise while one is trying to sleep can be particularly challenging - especially in university dormitories.
1.2 [usually as modifier] chiefly British A small town or suburb providing a residential area for those who work in a nearby city: a dormitory town...
- Yet nowadays declining inner cities are disproportionately represented, at the expense of dormitory towns and rural areas.
- Couples with families might see more benefit in suburbs, or dormitory towns.
- Her letter calls for development to prevent dormitory towns and villages, promote affordable housing and protect tourist attractions.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin dormitorium, neuter (used as a noun) of dormitorius, from dormire 'to sleep'.