parlor

American  

[pahr-ler] / ˈpɑr lər /

especially British, parlour

noun

1. Older Use. a room for the reception and entertainment of visitors to one's home; living room.

2. a room, apartment, or building serving as a place of business for certain businesses or professions.

   funeral parlor; beauty parlor.

3. a somewhat private room in a hotel, club, or the like for relaxation, conversation, etc.; lounge.

4. Also called locutorium.  a room in a monastery or the like where the inhabitants may converse with visitors or with each other.

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adjective

1. advocating something, as a political view or doctrine, at a safe remove from actual involvement in or commitment to action.

   parlor leftism; parlor pink.

Etymology

Origin of parlor

1175–1225; Middle English parlur < Anglo-French; Old French parleor, equivalent to parl ( er ) to speak ( parle ) + -eor -or ²

Example Sentences

One winter a friend gave us a parlor stove with nickel trim.

From Literature

A favorite futurist parlor game involves estimating the percentage of online content currently generated by machines.

From The Wall Street Journal

The newly built house had three floors, at least seven rooms, and a balcony that overlooked a fine parlor.

From Literature

While the fiction became formulaic, it could yield dazzling plots alongside predictable parlor tricks.

From The Wall Street Journal

She suggested we ditch dinner altogether and go to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that she and Uncle Jack used to love.

From Literature

Related Words

• drawing room
• living room
• lounge
• salon