[gal.lery] n, pl -ler.ies [ME galerie, fr. ML galeria, prob. alter. of galilaea galilee] (15c) 1 a: a roofed promenade: colonnade b: corridor
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
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 ~ of characters in this novel --H. S. Canby"
5. a: a structure projecting from one or more interior walls of an auditorium to accommodate additional people; esp: 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 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 adj -- gal.lery.ite n