interior

American  

[in-teer-ee-er] / ɪnˈtɪər i ər /

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 British  

/ 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 British  

/ ɪnˈtɪərɪə /

noun

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

   Department of the Interior

---

Related Words

See inside.

Other Word Forms

• interiority noun
• interiorly adverb

Etymology

Origin of interior

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

Example Sentences

“The main house unfolds around a central landscaped courtyard, a lovely focal point that brings light and flow to the interiors,” the description goes on.

From MarketWatch

He succeeds in showing their interior world, immersing us in the tensions and pleasures, griefs and passions of their days.

From The Wall Street Journal

After buying the home, the couple carried out an extensive interior overhaul, working with designer Billy Cotton—who is also referenced in Allen’s song—to turn the historic abode into a “weird” and whimsical wonderland.

From MarketWatch

Hiddleston was especially attracted to her desire to highlight the vulnerability of the characters, all of whom present an exterior that is vastly different than their interior life.

From Los Angeles Times

Sheikh Maqsud, however, remained off limits, with no one allowed to enter, an interior ministry source told AFP.

From Barron's

Related Words

• internal
• remote