/ ɪnˈtɪəriə(r); NAmE -ˈtɪr-/ noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] the inside part of sth :
the interior of a building / a car
OPP exterior
2.
the interior [ sing. ] the central part of a country or continent that is a long way from the coast :
an expedition into the interior of Australia
3.
the Interior [ sing. ] a country's own affairs rather than those that involve other countries :
the Department / Minister of the Interior
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] connected with the inside part of sth :
interior walls
OPP exterior
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: from Latin , inner , comparative adjective from inter within.