Found 2 items, similar to Whispering gallery.
English → English (WordNet)
Definition: whispering gallery
whispering gallery
n : a space beneath a dome or arch in which sounds produced at
certain points are clearly audible at certain distant
points [syn:
whispering dome]
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Whispering gallery
Gallery
\Gal"ler*y\, n.; pl.
Galleries. [F. galerie, It.
galleria, fr. LL. galeria gallery, perh. orig., a festal
hall, banquetting hall; cf. OF. galerie a rejoicing, fr.
galer to rejoice. Cf.
Gallant, a.]
1. A long and narrow corridor, or place for walking; a
connecting passageway, as between one room and another;
also, a long hole or passage excavated by a boring or
burrowing animal.
[1913 Webster]
2. A room for the exhibition of works of art; as, a picture
gallery; hence, also, a large or important collection of
paintings, sculptures, etc.
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3. A long and narrow platform attached to one or more sides
of public hall or the interior of a church, and supported
by brackets or columns; -- sometimes intended to be
occupied by musicians or spectators, sometimes designed
merely to increase the capacity of the hall.
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4. (Naut.) A frame, like a balcony, projecting from the stern
or quarter of a ship, and hence called
stern gallery or
quarter gallery, -- seldom found in vessels built since
1850.
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5. (Fort.) Any communication which is covered overhead as
well as at the sides. When prepared for defense, it is a
defensive gallery.
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6. (Mining) A working drift or level.
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Whispering gallery. See under
Whispering.
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Whispering
\Whis"per*ing\,
a. & n. from
Whisper. v. t.
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Whispering gallery, or
Whispering dome, one of such a
form that sounds produced in certain parts of it are
concentrated by reflection from the walls to another part,
so that whispers or feeble sounds are audible at a much
greater distance than under ordinary circumstances. The
dome of the U. S. capitol building is one example.
[1913 Webster +PJC]