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Meaning & use

atrium

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈeɪtriəm/
US/ˈeɪtriəm/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A large open space inside a building, often several floors high and lit from above.

    Grammar: Plural is atriums or, formally, atria.

    Patterns

    • in the atrium
    • an atrium with something

    We met in the atrium of the shopping center.

    A glass roof lets daylight fill the atrium.

    The hotel has a tall atrium with a fountain.

  2. nouncountablemedical

    One of the two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins.

    Grammar: Plural is atria in medical writing.

    Patterns

    • the left atrium
    • the right atrium

    Blood enters the right atrium from the body.

    The left atrium sends blood to the ventricle.

    An irregular rhythm began in the atrium.

  3. nouncountablespecialist

    The central courtyard or main hall of an ancient Roman house.

    Grammar: Used mainly in history and archaeology.

    Patterns

    • the atrium of a house

    Rain fell into the pool in the atrium.

    Visitors waited in the atrium of the villa.

    Archaeologists uncovered the atrium of the Roman house.

Word forms

pluralatria
pluralatriums

Common combinations

glass atrium
A glass atrium brightens the office.
hotel atrium
The hotel atrium has a café.
left atrium
The left atrium collects blood from the lungs.
right atrium
Blood returns to the right atrium.
central atrium
The classrooms surround a central atrium.

Synonyms and how they differ

courtyard
Courtyard is an open space surrounded by walls, but it is outdoors, while an atrium is usually covered and indoors.
foyer
Foyer is an entrance hall, while an atrium is a tall open central space that need not be at the entrance.
auricle
Auricle is an older name for part of the heart's atrium and is used less often.

Opposites

ventricle

Word family

atrial adjective
relating to the atrium of the heart
atria noun
plural of atrium
atriums noun
English plural of atrium

Commonly confused: atrium or ventricle?

atrium vs ventricle

A ventricle is one of the two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out, while an atrium receives it.

Practice

Which heart chamber is an atrium?

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