parlor — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The living room of a house, or a room for entertaining guests; a room for talking; a sitting-room or drawing room.

   Synonyms

   living roomsitting roomdrawing room

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor. 'Twas a dismal sort of place, with hair wreaths, and wax fruit, and tin lambrekins, and land knows what all.

2. The apartment in a monastery or nunnery where the residents are permitted to meet and converse with each other or with visitors from the outside.

   Usage

   • Archaic

3. A comfortable room in a public house.

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Immediately at hand was a small, mean public-house - one of those dingy establishments that seem to express, by their morbid and retiring appearance, a certain anxiety to escape the eye of the police - and into the parlour of this hostel Quin promptly led the way.

   There had been a surprise party and some had entered his hotel parlour to get drink; before he was aware of it the accordion was being played in the room.

4. A covered open-air patio.

   Usage

   • Southern-US

5. A shop or other business selling goods or services specified by context.

   Examples

   tattoo parlor pizza parlor ice cream parlor

6. A shed used for milking cattle; a milking parlor.

Adjective

1. Used in or appropriate for a parlor.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Parlor painting.

2. Advocating something in a secluded place without actual involvement or action.

   Usage

   • Figurative
   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Parlor socialism.

Noun

1. reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

   Synonyms

   parlour

   Broader terms

   reception room

2. a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

   Synonyms

   living roomliving-roomsitting roomfront roomparlour

   Broader terms

   room