n. & v.
--n. (pl. -ies)
1. a porch, ante-room, entrance-hall, or corridor.
2 a (in the House of Commons) a large hall used esp. for interviews between MPs and members of the public. b (also division lobby) each of two corridors to which MPs retire to vote.
3 a a body of persons seeking to influence legislators on behalf of a particular interest (the anti-abortion lobby). b an organized attempt by members of the public to influence legislators (a lobby of MPs).
4 (prec. by the) (in the UK) a group of journalists who receive unattributable briefings from the government (lobby correspondent).
--v. (-ies, -ied)
1. tr. solicit the support of (an influential person).
2 tr. (of members of the public) seek to influence (the members of a legislature).
3 intr. frequent a parliamentary lobby.
4 tr. (foll. by through) get (a bill etc.) through a legislature, by interviews etc. in the lobby.
Derivatives:
lobbyer n. lobbyism n. lobbyist n.
Etymology: med.L lobia, lobium LODGE