atrium

noun

atri·​um ˈā-trē-əm How to pronounce atrium (audio)
plural atria ˈā-trē-ə How to pronounce atrium (audio) also atriums
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
atrial adjective

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
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The ship’s three-story atrium showcases the sea through a massive wall of glass, offering views from various levels, including from the champagne bar, the coffee shop, or a classy club chair in the Dolce Vita bar. AFAR Media, 3 July 2025 Last December, Pinky’s by Vanderpump opened with its green and glassy atrium right on Las Vegas Boulevard. Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 The atrium within the college’s main entrance is undergoing improvements funded through a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, college spokesperson Kellie Martin confirmed Tuesday. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025 Photo : Nils Timm The formal dining room is flanked by a central glass atrium. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for atrium

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of atrium was in 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Atrium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrium. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

atrium

noun
atri·​um ˈā-trē-əm How to pronounce atrium (audio)
plural atria -trē-ə How to pronounce atrium (audio) also atriums
: a chamber of the heart receiving blood from the veins and forcing it into a ventricle that in lung-breathing vertebrates (as frogs and human beings) is one of two chambers of which the right receives blood full of carbon dioxide from the body and the left receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs but in gill-breathing vertebrates (as fishes) is only a single chamber

Medical Definition

atrium

noun
atri·​um ˈā-trē-əm How to pronounce atrium (audio)
plural atria -trē-ə How to pronounce atrium (audio) also atriums
: an anatomical cavity or passage
especially : a chamber of the heart that receives blood from the veins and forces it into a ventricle or ventricles

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