plural atria
ˈā-trē-ə 
also atriums
also atriums
1
: the central room of a Roman house
2
plural usually atriums
a
: a rectangular open patio around which a house is built
b
: a many-storied court in a building (such as a hotel) usually with a skylight
3
[New Latin, from Latin]
: an anatomical cavity or passage
especially
: the chamber or either of the chambers of the heart that receives blood from the veins and forces it into the ventricle or ventricles see heart illustration
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In an ancient Roman house, an atrium was an open central court that contained the impluvium, a basin where rainwater collected. It originally contained the hearth and functioned as the center of family life. The term later came to be used for the open front courtyard of a Christian basilica, where congregants collected before services. The atrium was revived in the 20th century in the form of glass-covered, greenery-filled multistory spaces sometimes found in shopping centers, office buildings, and large hotels.
Examples of atrium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The mitral valve is positioned between the heart’s left atrium and ventricle.
—
Patty Weasler, Rn, Bsn, Verywell Health, 13 Feb. 2025
The store, which features the label’s fashion and fragrance goods, is located at a busy atrium of the mall, neighboring Dries Van Noten and Thom Browne.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025
The atrium of the United Center was decked out with Rose memorabilia and giant banners.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Bishop Paul Erickson's prayer echoed through the atrium of Milwaukee City Hall last Friday.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
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Patty Weasler, Rn, Bsn, Verywell Health, 13 Feb. 2025
The store, which features the label’s fashion and fragrance goods, is located at a busy atrium of the mall, neighboring Dries Van Noten and Thom Browne.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025
The atrium of the United Center was decked out with Rose memorabilia and giant banners.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Bishop Paul Erickson's prayer echoed through the atrium of Milwaukee City Hall last Friday.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for atrium
Cite this Entry
“Atrium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrium. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
atrium
noun
atri·um
ˈā-trē-əm
plural atria
-trē-ə
also atriums
also atriums
: a chamber of the heart receiving blood from the veins and forcing it into a ventricle that in lung-breathing vertebrates (as frogs and human beings) is one of two chambers of which the right receives blood full of carbon dioxide from the body and the left receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs but in gill-breathing vertebrates (as fishes) is only a single chamber
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