chamber | |
1. subst. A room or set of rooms, particularly: | |
2. subst. The private room of an individual, especially of someone wealthy or noble. | |
3. subst. A bedroom. | |
4. subst. The private office of a judge. | |
5. subst. The room used for deliberation by a legislature. | |
6. subst. (UK) A single law office in a building housing several. | |
7. subst. (dated) Rooms in a lodging house. | |
8. subst. (obsolete) (clipping of chamber pot): a container used for urination and defecation in one's chambers. | |
9. subst. (figuratively) The legislature or division of the legislature itself. | |
The resolution, which speedily passed the Senate, was unable to gain a majority in the lower chamber. | |
10. subst. Any enclosed space occupying or similar to a room. | |
A canal lock chamber; a furnace chamber; a test chamber | |
11. subst. (firearms) The area holding the ammunition round at the initiation of its discharge. | |
Dianne loaded a cartridge into the chamber of the rifle, then prepared to take aim at the target. | |
12. subst. (firearms) One of the bullet-holding compartments in the cylinder of a revolver. | |
13. subst. (historical) A short piece of ordnance or cannon which stood on its breech without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for celebrations and theatrical cannonades. | |
14. v. To enclose in a room. | |
She had chambered herself in her room, and wouldn't come out. | |
15. v. To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers. | |
16. v. 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. | |
17. v. 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. | |
18. v. 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. | |
19. v. (obsolete) To be lascivious. | |