Chamber
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈtʃeɪmbə(ɹ)/
Alternative forms
- chambre obsolete
Origin
From French chambre, from Latin camera, from Ancient Greek καμάÏα (kamara, "vaulted chamber").
Full definition of chamber
Noun
chamber
(plural chambers)- A room, especially one used primarily for sleeping; bedroom, sleeping room.
- 1845, Edgar Allen Poe, ,Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
- An enclosed space.the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the eyeA test chamber is typically a closable case where devices under test are placed.
- (firearms) The portion of the weapon that holds the ammunition round immediately prior to (and during initiation of) its discharge. Dianne loaded a cartridge into the chamber of the rifle, then prepared to take aim at the target.
- One of the legislative bodies in a government where multiple such bodies exist, or a single such body in comparison to others. The resolution, which speedily passed the Senate, was unable to gain a majority in the lower chamber.
- A law office in a building housing several such offices, typically the office of a barrister in the United Kingdom or in the imagination of an African scammer.
- (dated, in the plural) Apartments in a lodging house.
- Thackeraya bachelor's life in chambers
- (obsolete) A chamber pot.
- (historical) A short piece of ordnance or cannon which stood on its breech without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for celebrations and theatrical cannonades.
Derived terms
Related terms
Verb
- To enclose in a room.She had chambered herself in her room, and wouldn't come out.
- To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers.
- 1893, Publications of the Scottish History Society (volume 14, page 64)I chambered with Alexander Preston.
- To place in a chamber, as a round of ammunition.The hunter fired at the geese and missed, then shrugged his shoulders and chambered another cartridge.
- To create or modify a gun to be a specific caliber.The rifle was originally chambered for 9MM, but had since been modified for a larger, wildcat caliber.
- In martial arts, to prepare an offensive, defensive, or counteroffensive action by drawing a limb or weapon to a position where it may be charged with kinetic energy.Bob chambered his fist for a blow, but Sheila struck first.
- (obsolete) To be lascivious.