interior

[in-teer-ee-er]

adjective

1. being within; inside of anything; internal; inner; further toward a center.

   the interior rooms of a house.

   Antonyms: exterior

2. of or relating to that which is within; inside.

   an interior view.

3. situated well inland from the coast or border.

   the interior towns of a country.

4. of or relating to the inland.

5. domestic.

   interior trade.

6. private or hidden; inner.

   interior negotiations of the council.

7. pertaining to the mind or soul; mental or spiritual.

   the interior life.

noun

1. the internal or inner part; inside.

   Antonyms: exterior

2. Architecture.

   1. the inside part of a building, considered as a whole from the point of view of artistic design or general effect, convenience, etc.

   2. a single room or apartment so considered.

3. a pictorial representation of the inside of a room.

4. the inland parts of a region, country, etc..

   the Alaskan interior.

5. the domestic affairs of a country as distinguished from its foreign affairs.

   the Department of the Interior.

6. the inner or inward nature or character of anything.

7. Mathematics.,  the largest open set contained in a given set, as the points in a circle not including the boundary.

interior

¹

/ ɪnˈtɪərɪə /

noun

1. a part, surface, or region that is inside or on the inside

   the interior of Africa

2. inner character or nature

3. a film or scene shot inside a building, studio, etc

4. a picture of the inside of a room or building, as in a painting or stage design

5. the inside of a building or room, with respect to design and decoration

adjective

1. of, situated on, or suitable for the inside; inner

2. coming or acting from within; internal

3. of or involving a nation's domestic affairs; internal

4. (esp of one's spiritual or mental life) secret or private; not observable

Interior

²

/ ɪnˈtɪərɪə /

noun

1. (in titles) the domestic or internal affairs of any of certain countries

   Department of the Interior

Other Word Forms

• interiorly adverb
• interiority noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of interior¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin, comparative adjective equivalent to inter- “inward” + -ior comparative suffix; exterior

Word History and Origins

Origin of interior¹

C15: from Latin (adj), comparative of inter within

Synonym Study

See inside.

Example Sentences

The trust's website says Penrhyn Castle's "formidable architecture, opulent interiors and fine art collection lean on a long history of sugar and slate fortunes, social unrest and the longest-running industrial dispute in British history".

From BBC

The fire left the building’s interior heavily damaged, delaying the collection of evidence and possible recovery of additional victims.

From Salon

The bluffs, canyons and mountainous terrain that comprise the interior of the base has been fertile training ground for those sent to conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.

From Los Angeles Times

It doesn’t totally matter what a character is saying or doing in these moments, because their interior motives are not up for debate or conversation.

From Salon

Stringer built most of the studio’s interior himself, save for select furnishings and an Ikea shelving unit he painted cobalt blue to match the room’s colorful aesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• internal 
• remote