I. lob ‧ by 1 /ˈlɒbi $ ˈlɑːbi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural lobbies ) [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: lobium 'covered way for walking' ]
1 . a wide passage or large hall just inside the entrance to a public building SYN foyer :
a hotel lobby
I’ll meet you in the entrance lobby.
2 .
a) a hall in the British parliament where members of parliament and the public meet
b) one of the two passages in the British parliament where members go to vote for or against a ↑ bill
3 . [also + plural verb British English] a group of people who try to persuade a government that a particular law or situation should be changed:
the anti-foxhunting lobby
a powerful environmental lobby group
4 . an attempt to persuade a government to change a law, make a new law etc:
a mass lobby of Parliament by women’s organizations
II. lobby 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle lobbied , present participle lobbying , third person singular lobbies ) [intransitive and transitive]
to try to persuade the government or someone with political power that a law or situation should be changed
lobby for/against
The group is lobbying for a reduction in defence spending.
lobby somebody to do something
We’ve been lobbying our state representative to support the new health plan.
—lobbyist noun [countable]