triclinium

[ trahy-klin-ee-uhm ]

noun,plural tri·clin·i·a [trahy-klin-ee-uh]. /traɪˈklɪn i ə/. Roman History.
  1. a couch extending along three sides of a table, for reclining on at meals.

  2. a dining room, especially one containing such a couch.

Origin of triclinium

1
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin trīclīnium, from Greek triklī́nion, diminutive of tríklīnos “having three couches (adjective), dining room so furnished (noun),” equivalent to tri- tri- + klī́n(ē) “couch” (see clinic) + -ion diminutive suffix

Words Nearby triclinium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use triclinium in a sentence

  • They enter the triclinium in the midst of the banquet; they crawl over the viands and spoil what they do not devour.

  • The passage itself abutted in Dea Flavia's house on one of the small rooms that lay round the triclinium.

    "Unto Caesar" | Baroness Emmuska Orczy
  • As Acton appeared in the triclinium some slaves fled, fearing lest they should be punished for their curiosity.

    Snnica | Vicente Blasco Ibez
  • They were slaves who, excited by the feast, continued beneath the open sky the scenes of the triclinium.

    Snnica | Vicente Blasco Ibez
  • Four enormous bronze lampadaries occupied the corners of the triclinium.

    Snnica | Vicente Blasco Ibez

British Dictionary definitions for triclinium

triclinium

/ (traɪˈklɪnɪəm) /


nounplural -ia (-ɪə) (in ancient Rome)
  1. an arrangement of three couches around a table for reclining upon while dining

  2. a dining room, esp one containing such an arrangement of couches

Origin of triclinium

1
C17: from Latin, from Greek triklinion, from tri- + klinē a couch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012