atrium

noun

atri·um | \ ˈā-trē-əm

plural atria\ -trē-ə

\ also atriums

Definition of atrium

1 : the central room of a Roman house

2 plural usually atriums

a : a rectangular open patio around which a house is built

b : a many-storied court in a building (such as a hotel) usually with a skylight

3 [ New Latin, from Latin ] : an anatomical cavity or passage especially : the chamber or either of the chambers of the heart that receives blood from the veins and forces it into the ventricle or ventricles — see heart illustration

Other Words from atrium Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about atrium

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Did You Know?

In an ancient Roman house, an atrium was an open central court that contained the impluvium, a basin where rainwater collected. It originally contained the hearth and functioned as the center of family life. The term later came to be used for the open front courtyard of a Christian basilica, where congregants collected before services. The atrium was revived in the 20th century in the form of glass-covered, greenery-filled multistory spaces sometimes found in shopping centers, office buildings, and large hotels.

Examples of atrium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The open-plan lobby, at the ground floor of a five-story-high atrium that houses the rooms, has a striking industrial-chic vibe. — Isa Tousignant, Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Best Day Trips From Montreal," 17 Aug. 2018 Set in the style of a turn-of-the-century Florida mansion, there are three glass dome atriums with four acres of the history of St. Augustine, Key West, and the Everglades. — Amy Aumick, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Osceola County: Gaylord Palms an attraction unto itself," 6 May 2018 In front of a glass atrium containing a tropical garden, a table held African statues and artifacts. — William Middleton, Town & Country, "How the De Menil Family Raised Good Taste to an Art Form," 7 Mar. 2018 New York’s new Amazon Go store will sit adjacent to Brookfield Place’s Winter Garden atrium — a 10-story glass pavilion that was damaged in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011. — Jason Del Rey, Recode, "New York City’s first Amazon Go cashierless store will open near the World Trade Center," 23 Oct. 2018 The night would continue in the atrium for a dance party and supper with a black, white, and red allover decor scheme inspired by the costumes of the final performance. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "It Was Ladies’ Night at the American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala," 18 Oct. 2018 Most people gathered in the building’s atrium to listen, but Ford’s words also echoed through the hallways from overhead speakers. — Alexia Fernández Campbell, Vox, "Hundreds of people showed up to thank Ford for testifying," 27 Sep. 2018 While the atria help the heart work properly, the ventricles alone are enough to keep the body supplied with blood. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "What is atrial fibrillation, and why is your watch telling you about it?," 26 Sep. 2018 A few hours after Maduro left, the central bank’s main atrium — the only place where the certificates are being sold for now — was desolate, with only a handful of prospective buyers inquiring about the documentation required to make a purchase. — Jorge Rueda, The Seattle Times, "Maduro buys gold to boost savings amid five-digit inflation," 3 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atrium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.