chamber Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a natural or artificial enclosed space
  2. noun an enclosed volume in the body
    • the chambers of his heart were healthy
  3. noun a room where a judge transacts business
  4. noun a deliberative or legislative or administrative or judicial assembly
    • the upper chamber is the senate
  5. noun a room used primarily for sleeping
    sleeping accommodation; sleeping room; bedchamber; bedroom.
  6. verb place in a chamber

WordNet

Cham"ber noun
Etymology
F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched roof, in LL. chamber, fr. Gr. anything with a vaulted roof or arched covering; cf. Skr. kmar to be crooked. Cf. Camber, Camera, Comrade.
Definitions
  1. A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom; as, the house had four chambers.
  2. pl. Apartments in a lodging house. "A bachelor's life in chambers." Thackeray.
  3. A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative body or assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate chamber.
  4. A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of Commerce.
  5. A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as, the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the eye.
  6. pl. (Law.) A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts business; a room or rooms where a judge transacts such official business as may be done out of court.
  7. A chamber pot. Colloq.
  8. (Mil.) (a) That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which holds the charge, esp. when of different diameter from the rest of the bore; -- formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in breech-loading guns. (b) A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to contain the powder. (c) A short piece of ornance or cannon, which stood on its breech, without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades.
Cham"ber intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Chambered ; present participle & verbal noun Chambering
Definitions
  1. To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers.
  2. To be lascivious. Obs.
Cham"ber transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To shut up, as inn a chamber. Shak.
  2. To furnish with a chamber; as, to chamber a gun.

Webster 1913