chamber

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an enclosed volume in the body

   The chambers of their heart were healthy.

2. 2
   noun

   a deliberative or legislative or administrative or judicial assembly

   the upper chamber is the senate

3. 3
   verb

   to place in an enclose area or chamber

   I chambered the bullet into the gun.

4. 4
   noun

   A room or set of rooms

   Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, / Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, / While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, / As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

5. 5
   noun

   Ellipsis of chamber pot (“a container used for urination and defecation in one's chambers”).

   "Jesus Christ! Was my folks refined. My mam she wouldn't think-a lettin' us young'uns call a pee pot a pee pot. A chamber's what she called it... And by God! Us young'uns had ter call the pee pot a chamber or git our God damn necks wrang."

6. 6
   noun

   The legislature or division of the legislature itself.

   The resolution, which speedily passed the Senate, was unable to gain a majority in the lower chamber.

7. 7
   noun

   Any enclosed space occupying or similar to a room.

   A canal lock chamber; a furnace chamber; a test chamber

8. 8
   noun

   The area holding the ammunition round at the initiation of its discharge.

   Dianne loaded a cartridge into the chamber of the rifle, then prepared to take aim at the target.

Etymology

From Middle English chambre, borrowed from Old French chambre, from Latin camera, from Ancient Greek καμάρα (kamára, “vaulted chamber”). Doublet of camera.