vestibule

American  

[ves-tuh-byool] / ˈvɛs təˌbyul /

noun

1. a passage, hall, or antechamber between the outer door and the interior parts of a house or building.

2. Railroads. an enclosed space at the end of a passenger car, serving as a sheltered entrance to the car from another car or from outside the train.

3. Anatomy, Zoology. any of various cavities or hollows regarded as forming an approach or entrance to another cavity or space, as that of the internal ear.

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verb (used with object)

vestibuled, vestibuling

1. to provide with a vestibule.

vestibule British  

/ vɛˈstɪbjʊlə, ˈvɛstɪˌbjuːl /

noun

1. a small entrance hall or anteroom; lobby

2. any small bodily cavity or space at the entrance to a passage or canal

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vestibule Scientific  

/ vĕs′tə-byo̅o̅l′ /

1. An oval cavity in the inner ear that together with the semicircular canals makes up the organ that maintains equilibrium in vertebrates.

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Other Word Forms

• vestibular adjective

Etymology

Origin of vestibule

First recorded in 1615–25, vestibule is from the Latin word vestibulum forecourt, entrance

Example Sentences

Inside the bright vestibule, the face of a protective Gorgon glowers at the visitor.

From The Wall Street Journal

That pressure came to a head after immigration officials detained two Target employees inside the vestibule of a suburban store late last week after what appeared to be some verbal sparring in the parking lot.

From The Wall Street Journal

As we go by, Mr. Benchley is in the vestibule.

From Literature

The housekeeper, having spied a man sleeping in the vestibule of her building, believes he’s connected to the murder and thus fears for her safety.

From Los Angeles Times

For now, we were in a vestibule of hope: It was rumor, not fact, I told them and myself.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• doorway
• foyer
• hallway
• porch