What does "gallery" mean?

1. (art museum or room) a building or room where you can look at paintings, sculptures, and other art. 2. (art shop) a business that shows and sells works of art. 3. (digital collection) a collection of images or photos on a computer, phone, or website. 4. (theatre seating) the highest floor of seats in a theatre or concert hall. 5. (architectural walkway) a long, narrow room or a covered path along the side of a building. 6. (underground passage) a tunnel or passage cut through the ground, often in a mine.

gallery

US //ˈɡæɫɝi// UK //ɡˈæləɹi// gallery

1 art museum or room (n.)
A2 Elementary

a building or room where you can look at paintings, sculptures, and other art.

an institution, building, or room dedicated to the exhibition and conservation of artistic works.

Example

We spent the whole afternoon at the national gallery looking at modern paintings.

Example

The city's most famous gallery houses an extensive collection of Renaissance masterpieces, attracting thousands of tourists every week.
- museum
- exhibition space
2 art shop (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a business that shows and sells works of art.

a commercial establishment that displays and sells works of art to the public or private collectors.

Example

The local gallery is showing some beautiful pottery by a new artist.

Example

The gallery owner decided to represent the young sculptor after seeing her work at the university degree show.
- showroom
- art shop

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3 digital collection (n.)
B1 Intermediate Computing

a collection of images or photos on a computer, phone, or website.

a browsable collection of digital images, icons, or media files within a software application or website.

Example

I need to delete some old screenshots from my phone's photo gallery.

Example

The website features a comprehensive gallery of high-resolution product images to help customers make informed purchasing decisions.
- library
- album
4 theatre seating (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

the highest floor of seats in a theatre or concert hall.

the uppermost seating area projecting from the rear or side walls of a theatre or auditorium.

Example

The tickets for the gallery were much cheaper than the seats near the stage.

Example

From our vantage point in the gallery, we had a clear view of the entire orchestra, though the actors looked quite small.
- balcony
- gods
5 architectural walkway (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Architecture

a long, narrow room or a covered path along the side of a building.

a long, narrow room or a roofed promenade, often supported by arches, extending along the wall of a building.

Example

The palace has a long gallery filled with portraits of former kings.

Example

The architect designed a glass-walled gallery that connects the two wings of the hospital, providing a bright space for patients to walk.
6 underground passage (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

a tunnel or passage cut through the ground, often in a mine.

a horizontal passage or level in a mine or an underground tunnel system.

Example

The miners worked deep in the gallery to reach the coal.

Example

Archaeologists discovered a hidden gallery beneath the temple that had remained sealed for over two thousand years.

Origin

From Middle English galery, gallerye, from Middle French galerie, gallerie, from Old French galerie, gallerie (“a long portico, a gallery”), from Medieval Latin galeria (“gallery”), of unknown origin. Perhaps an alteration of Latin galilea (“church porch”), probably from Latin Galilaea, Galilee, region of Israel. More at Galilee.

Idioms3 entries