n.
Pronunciation: ' ga-l ə -r ē , ' gal-r ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ler · ies
Etymology: Middle English galerie, from Medieval Latin galeria, probably alteration of galilaea galilee
Date: 15th century
1 a : a roofed promenade : COLONNADE b : CORRIDOR 1
2 a : an outdoor balcony b Southern & Midland : PORCH , VERANDA c : a platform at the quarters or stern of a ship
3 a : a long and narrow passage, apartment, or corridor b : a subterranean passageway in a cave or military mining system also : a working drift or level in mining c : an underground passage made by a mole or ant or a passage made in wood by an insect (as a beetle)
4 a : a room or building devoted to the exhibition of works of art b : an institution or business exhibiting or dealing in works of art c : COLLECTION , AGGREGATION <the rich gallery of characters in this novel ― H. S. Canby>
5 a : a structure projecting from one or more interior walls (as of an auditorium or church) to accommodate additional people especially : the highest balcony in a theater commonly having the cheapest seats b : the part of a theater audience seated in the top gallery c : the undiscriminating general public d : the spectators at a sporting event (as a tennis or golf match)
6 : a small ornamental barrier or railing (as along the edge of a table or shelf)
7 : a photographer's studio
– gal · ler · ied \ -r ē d \ adjective
– gal · lery · ite \ -r ē - ˌ ī t \ noun