solarium
Americannoun
noun
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a room built largely of glass to afford exposure to the sun
-
a bed equipped with ultraviolet lights used for acquiring an artificial suntan
-
an establishment offering such facilities
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of solarium
1815–25; < Latin sōlārium balcony, terrace, equivalent to sōl the sun + -ārium -ary
Explanation
A solarium is a room or part of a building that's made to be very sunny. You can also call a solarium a "sun room." Houses, restaurants, hospitals, and museums, among other buildings, sometimes include a solarium. This sun-filled room is similar to a porch, but instead of being open or enclosed with screens, it's lined with glass windows. Many solar-heated buildings include solariums in their design, since glass-enclosed rooms tend to stay very warm on sunny days. In Latin, solarium means "sundial" and also "that which is exposed to the sun."
Vocabulary lists containing solarium
Oh, My Stars! A Solstice Sampler
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Elements of the Universe: Sol ("Sun")
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The Sun – Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then, they moved to the solarium, which already boasted a slew of colorful and lit up greenery, which they hung baubles from.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025
The 175,000-square-foot building, purchased from real estate company Tishman Speyer, features an atrium sky bridge, a solarium, Zen-like gardens and an outdoor terrace.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2024
Over time it’s been upgraded with a new foyer, parlor, a solarium and even a breakfast nook.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 3, 2023
“Watch party, she said. They got that solarium and they were going to watch the, you know—” He waved a hand vaguely.
From Slate • Jul. 30, 2022
This solarium didn't have any scientific apparatus in it, though its skylights were big enough for telescopes.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
