room

1 /ru:m, rUm/ noun

1 IN A BUILDING (C) a part of the inside of a building that has its own walls, floor and ceiling: bathroom/dining room/meeting room etc (=a room used for washing, eating etc): The meeting room's upstairs on your right. | We could hear someone laughing in the next room. | It's bedtime - you'd better go up to your room. | I'm staying at the Arosa Hotel - Room 348. | single/double room (=a room in a hotel for one person or for two)

—see place 1

2 SPACE (U) enough space for a particular purpose: there's room in: I'd like to bring the children if there's room in the car. | there's room for: There's not enough room in the fridge for all this food. | there's room to do sth: There wasn't really room to lie down comfortably. | have room (for sth): Do you have room for another book in your bag? | Have you got room for some dessert? (=can you eat some?) | make room (for sth): I'll just clear out the cupboard to make room for your stuff. | leave room (for sth) (=make sure there is enough room for something): Leave room for people to get past. | take up room (=use a lot of space): That old wardrobe takes up too much room. | leg-room/head-room (=space for your legs or head in a vehicle): You have more leg-room if you travel first class. | there's not enough room to swing a cat informal (=used to say that there is very little space in a room)

—see also: elbow­room

3 OPPORTUNITY (U) the chance to do the things that you want to do or need to do

(+ for): There's little room for innovation. | room to do sth: Children need to have room to develop their natural creativity. | room for manoeuvre (=freedom to change your plans or decisions): The strict export regulations left us no room for manoeuvre.

4 POSSIBILITY (U) the possibility that something may exist or will happen: room for doubt: The evidence left no room for doubt - Brooks was guilty.

5 there's room for improvement used to say that someone's work or performance is not perfect and needs to be improved

6 one-roomed/two-roomed etc having one room, two rooms etc

7 APARTMENT rooms (plural) old-fashioned especially BrE two or more rooms that you rent in a building, or stay in at a college

—see also: front room, living room, sitting room 2 verb (I) AmE

1 room with sb to share a room with someone at college

2 (+ in) to rent and live in a room somewhere