chamber

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noun cham·ber \ˈchām-bər\

Definition of chamber

1 : room; especially : bedroom
2 : a natural or artificial enclosed space or cavity
3a : a hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body the senate chamberb : a room where a judge transacts business —usually used in pluralc : the reception room of a person of rank or authority
4a : a legislative or judicial body; especially : either of the houses of a bicameral legislatureb : a voluntary board or council
5a : the part of the bore of a gun that holds the chargeb : a compartment in the cartridge cylinder of a revolver

chambered

play \-bərd\ adjective

See chamber defined for English-language learners

See chamber defined for kids

Examples of chamber in a Sentence

He put three bullets into the chamber of the gun.
the chambers of the heart
We waited for the senator outside the Senate chamber.
The U.S. legislature is separated into two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Origin and Etymology of chamber

Middle English chambre, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin camera, from Latin, arched roof, from Greek kamara vault

NEW!

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

chamber

verb cham·ber

Definition of chamber

chambered

;

chambering

play \-b(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb
1 : to place in or as if in a chamber : house
2 : to serve as a chamber for; especially : to accommodate in the chamber of a firearm

Examples of chamber in a Sentence

chambered the lost hikers in the barn until the next morning

First Known Use of chamber

1568

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

chamber

adjective cham·ber

Definition of chamber

: being, relating to, or performing chamber music

First Known Use of chamber

1706

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

CHAMBER Defined for English Language Learners

chamber

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noun

Definition of chamber for English Language Learners

: a small space inside something (such as a machine or your body)
: a usually large room where members of a government group (such as a legislature) have meetings
: a group of people who form part of a government

CHAMBER Defined for Kids

chamber

play

noun cham·ber \ˈchām-bər\

Definition of chamber for Students

1 : an enclosed space, cavity, or compartment the chambers of the heart
2 : a room in a house and especially a bedroom
3 : a room used for a special purpose the pyramid's burial chamber
4 : a meeting hall of a government body the Senate chamber
5 : a room where a judge conducts business outside of the courtroom
6 : a group of people organized into a lawmaking body The Senate and the House of Representatives make up the two chambers of the United States legislature.
7 : a board or council of volunteers (as businessmen)

chambered

\-bərd\ adjective a chambered shell

Medical Dictionary

chamber

play

noun cham·ber \ˈchām-bər\

Medical Definition of chamber

: an enclosed space within the body of an animal—see anterior chamber, posterior chamber, pulp chamber, vitreous chamber

Law Dictionary

chamber

noun cham·ber

Legal Definition of chamber

1 : a judge's office; specifically : the private office where a judge carries on business other than court sessions (as conferences or signing papers) —usually used in plural four other judges met in my chambers — R. H. Bork a hearing in chambers
2a : a hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body or assembly to run back into the House chamber — Tip O'Neill b : a legislative or judicial body : house