English Reference

Word

salon

Phoneticssa·lon

US/səˈɫɑn/

UK/sˈælɒn/

Definitions

01beauty business

B1

n. a shop where you can get a haircut, a manicure, or other beauty treatments.

n. a commercial establishment where customers receive cosmetic treatments, typically for hair, skin, or nails.

“She goes to the same hair salon every month to get her hair cut.”

“The new beauty salon offers a wide range of services, including professional makeup application and advanced skincare treatments.”

02social gathering

C1

n. a regular meeting of people, often in a private home, to talk about art, books, or politics.

n. a periodic gathering of people of social or intellectual distinction, typically held in a private residence.

“In the past, famous writers would meet at a weekly salon to share their work.”

“The countess hosted an influential literary salon where the city's most prominent intellectuals debated the merits of modern philosophy.”

Formal

03art exhibition

C1 · Art

n. a large exhibition of paintings or sculptures, especially one held every year.

n. a hall or gallery used for the exhibition of works of art; specifically, the annual exhibition of the French Academy.

“The artist was thrilled when her painting was finally accepted into the Paris Salon.”

“During the nineteenth century, having a work displayed at the official Salon was essential for any artist seeking professional recognition.”

Formal

04reception room

B2

n. a large, elegant room in a big house used for meeting and entertaining guests.

n. an elegant apartment or living room in a large house, designed for receiving and entertaining guests.

“The guests gathered in the salon for coffee after the formal dinner.”

“The palace features a grand salon decorated with gold leaf and massive crystal chandeliers.”

Formal

Synonyms

drawing roomparlourlounge

Etymology

Borrowed from French salon (“reception room”), from Middle French, from Italian salone (“large hall”), augmented form of sala (“hall”), from Lombardic sala (“room, house, entrance hall”), from Proto-Germanic salą (“dwelling, house, hall”), from Proto-Indo-European sel- (“human settlement, village, dwelling”). Cognate with Old High German sal (“room, house, entrance hall”), Old English sæl (“room, hall, castle”), Old Church Slavonic село (selo, “courtyard, village”), Lithuanian sala (“island”). Doublet of saloon.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Art

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference