# atrium

/ˈeɪtɹiəm/ (US) · /ˈætɹiəm/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/atrium
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a large, open space inside a building that often has a glass roof. It can also mean one of the two top chambers in your heart that receive blood.

For teachers: a central, open-roofed hall or court in an ancient Roman house, or a modern large open space within a building. In anatomy, refers to either of the two upper cavities of the heart into which blood is passed to the ventricles.

## Examples

- The hotel guests gathered in the sunlit atrium for breakfast.
- Architects designed the new office complex with a five-story atrium to maximize natural light in the interior workspaces.
- The surgeon carefully monitored the pressure within the left atrium to ensure the valve replacement was functioning correctly without causing fluid backup in the lungs.

## Usage notes

- The plural form can be either 'atriums' or the Latinate 'atria', with the latter being more common in medical and scientific contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.