Atrium

Origin

From Latin ātrium ("entry hall"), from Etruscan.

Full definition of atrium

Noun

1. (architecture) A central room or space in ancient Roman homes, open to the sky in the middle; a similar space in other buildings.
2. (architecture) A square hall lit by daylight from above, into which rooms open at one or more levels.
3. (anatomy) Any enclosed sexine and nexine layers, widening toward the interior of the grain.
• Nexine 0.5μ thick, separating from the sexine about 5μ from the pore and forming a deep, well-defined atrium.

Synonyms

• (room in Roman homes) cavaedium

Derived terms

• atrial
• atriate