WordGarden.iochamber
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /tʃˈeɪmbə/
US
- /ˈtʃeɪmbər/
Meanings
Noun
a room or enclosed space in a building
one house or division of a legislature or official assembly
a judge's private room or a lawyer's professional offices
More meaningsFewer meanings
an enclosed compartment in a machine or device
an enclosed cavity in a body or organism
Adjective
performed by a small group, as in chamber music
Beyond the definition
A chamber isn't just any room; it often suggests a special purpose or a private, enclosed space. Think of the grand chambers where kings and queens once held court, or the chambers of your heart that pump blood through you! It can be a physical place—like a quiet sleeping chamber—or something more formal, like a legislative chamber where laws are debated and history is made. You might find a secret chamber hidden behind a bookcase in an old castle, or a combustion chamber tucked inside a powerful engine. The word often carries a sense of importance, privacy, and enclosure, elevating a simple space into one of dignity or specific function.
The word "chamber" refers to an enclosed space or room within a larger structure. While it can be a synonym for "room," it usually implies a degree of formality, privacy, or a specific technical function. Historically, chambers were the private rooms in royal palaces where monarchs conducted business and received guests—hence the title "Chamberlain" for a high-ranking official within a royal court.
Today, the word spans many fields. In government, a "chamber" refers to the hall where legislative bodies, such as a Senate or Parliament, meet to govern. In science and anatomy, it describes internal compartments, such as the four chambers of the human heart or the chambers of a nautilus shell. In mechanics, it refers to an enclosed space where a process occurs, like the combustion chamber of an engine or the part of a firearm's barrel that holds a cartridge before firing.
The word can also be used figuratively. A "chamber of horrors" describes a place filled with terrifying things, and people may speak of the "chambers of the mind" to suggest hidden thoughts or feelings. Whether describing the echoing halls of power, the intricate workings of a machine, or the hidden spaces within nature, a "chamber" suggests enclosure, purpose, and significance. It is more than just a room—it is a space with a specific story to tell.
Examples
- 1
Hidden room
A narrow stone chamber lay behind the hidden door.
- 2
Anatomy
The human heart has four chambers.
- 3
Legislature
The bill still needs approval from both chambers of Congress.
- Domainin government, both chambers
the two separate parts of a legislature
- 4
Legal office
The lawyer met her client in chambers after court.
- Domainin legal contexts, in chambers
in a judge's or lawyer's private office
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Online groups
Online groups can become echo chambers where no one hears a different opinion.
- Phraseecho chamber
a group or space where the same ideas are repeated and not questioned
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- open space
- passageway
Used with (collocations)
- inner chamber
- burial chamber
- gas chamber
- echo chamber
Word family
- chambered
Explore
- architecture
- enclosed space
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- chambernounverb
Forms
- chamberspluralnounverb