First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
gallery
noun gal·lery \ˈga-lə-rē, ˈgal-rē\
: a room or building in which people look at paintings, sculptures, etc.
: a business that sells paintings, sculptures, etc.
: a group or collection of people or things
plural gal·ler·ies
Full Definition of GALLERY
2
3
a : a long and narrow passage, apartment, or corridor b : a subterranean passageway in a cave or military mining system; also : a working drift or level in mining c : an underground passage made by a mole or ant or a passage made in wood by an insect (as a beetle)
4
a : a room or building devoted to the exhibition of works of art b : an institution or business exhibiting or dealing in works of art c : collection, aggregation <the rich gallery of characters in this novel — H. S. Canby>
5
a : a structure projecting from one or more interior walls (as of an auditorium or church) to accommodate additional people; especially : the highest balcony in a theater commonly having the cheapest seats b : the part of a theater audience seated in the top gallery c : the undiscriminating general public d : the spectators at a sporting event (as a tennis or golf match)
6
: a small ornamental barrier or railing (as along the edge of a table or shelf)
7
: a photographer's studio
— gal·ler·ied \-rēd\ adjective
— gal·lery·ite \-rē-ˌīt\ noun
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Origin of GALLERY
Middle English galerie, from Medieval Latin galeria, probably alteration of galilaea galilee
Other Architecture Terms
GALLERY Defined for Kids
gallery
noun gal·lery \ˈga-lə-rē, ˈgal-rē\
plural gal·ler·ies
Definition of GALLERY for Kids
1
: a long narrow room or hall
2
: an indoor structure (as in a theater or church) built out from one or more walls
3
: a room or building in which people look at works of art
4
: the highest balcony of seats in a theater or the people who sit there
5
: a passage (as in wood) made by an animal and especially an insect
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