vestibule
UK: ˈvɛstɪbjuːl | US: ˈvɛstəˌbjuːl
n. an entrance hall or lobby in a building
n. (Anatomy) a chamber or channel serving as an entrance to another structure (e.g., the vestibule of the ear)
vestibule = vesti<entrance> + bule<small space>
- vesti (from Latin vestibulum, meaning "entrance court")
- bule (diminutive/connoting a small enclosed space, from Latin -bulum, a suffix indicating place)
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin vestibulum, referring to the entrance area of a Roman house. Over time, it evolved to denote any transitional space between the outside and interior of a structure. The morpheme vesti- retains its core idea of "entry," while -bule suggests a contained area, reflecting the word’s architectural and anatomical uses.
The hotel’s grand vestibule was adorned with marble columns.
She waited nervously in the vestibule before her job interview.
The inner ear’s vestibule plays a key role in balance.
A coat rack stood near the vestibule entrance.
The theater’s vestibule buzzed with chatter during intermission.