drawing room

See more synonyms for drawing room on Thesaurus.com

noun

a formal reception room, especially in an apartment or private house.
(in a railroad car) a private room for two or three passengers.
British. a formal reception, especially at court.

Origin of drawing room

First recorded in 1635–45; as shortening of now obsolete withdrawing room

Related formsdraw·ing-room, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for drawing room

parlor, salon

Examples from the Web for drawing room

Contemporary Examples of drawing room

A moment ago the drawing-room had seemed empty; Mrs. Luke, in her sole person, filled and illuminated it.
The Best-Dressed Way to Say Goodbye
Justin Jones
October 21, 2014
He struck me as being something of a drawing-room Communist and I doubt whether he had talks of any importance with the Chinese.
How to Hide a Famine with Ping-Pong
Nicholas Griffin
January 9, 2014

Historical Examples of drawing room

If only she could have stayed there with Mimi; but in the end she had to go back to the drawing-room.
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
With his hand on the knob of the drawing-room door Austin paused and looked at him.
Viviette
William J. Locke
An hour later, she was at the house of Mrs. Weston, and was shown into the drawing-room.
Life in London
Edwin Hodder
"No one but major Marvel," she answered, and opened the door of the drawing-room.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Then he turned to the two in the drawing-room, both of whom had now risen to their feet.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for drawing room

drawing room

noun

a room where visitors are received and entertained; living room; sitting room
archaic a ceremonial or formal reception, esp at court

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

Word Origin and History for drawing room

1640s, short for withdrawing room (see withdraw), into which ladies would go after dinner.