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Webster 1913 Edition


Lobby

Lob′by

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Lobbies
(#)
.
[LL.
lobium
,
lobia
,
laubia
, a covered portico fit for walking, fr. OHG.
louba
, G.
laube
, arbor. See
Lodge
.]
1.
(Arch.)
A passage or hall of communication, especially when large enough to serve also as a waiting room. It differs from an antechamber in that a lobby communicates between several rooms, an antechamber to one only; but this distinction is not carefully preserved.
3.
(Naut.)
An apartment or passageway in the fore part of an old-fashioned cabin under the quarter-deck.
4.
(Agric.)
A confined place for cattle, formed by hedges. trees, or other fencing, near the farmyard.
Lobby member
,
a lobbyist.
[Humorous cant, U. S.]

Lob′by

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Lobbied
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Lobbying
.]
To address or solicit members of a legislative body in the lobby or elsewhere, with the purpose to influence their votes; in an extended sense, to try to influence decision-makers in any circumstance.
[U.S.]
Bartlett.

Lob′by

,
Verb.
T.
To urge the adoption or passage of by soliciting members of a legislative body;
as, to
lobby
a bill
; – also used with the legislators as object;
as, to lobby the state legislatuire for protection
.
[U.S.]

Definition 2024


Lobby

Lobby

See also: lobby

German

Noun

Lobby f (genitive Lobby, plural Lobbys or Lobbies)

  1. lobby (class or group of people who try to lobby or influence public officials; collectively, lobbyists)

Usage notes

Related terms

lobby

lobby

See also: Lobby

English

Noun

lobby (plural lobbies)

  1. An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor.
    I had to wait in the lobby for hours before seeing the doctor.
  2. That part of a hall of legislation not appropriated to the official use of the assembly.
  3. A class or group of people who try to influence public officials; collectively, lobbyists.
    The influence of the tobacco lobby has decreased considerably in the US.
  4. (video games) A virtual area where players can chat and find opponents for a game.
  5. (nautical) An apartment or passageway in the fore part of an old-fashioned cabin under the quarter-deck.
  6. A confined place for cattle, formed by hedges, trees, or other fencing, near the farmyard.
  7. A margin along either side of the playing field in the sport of kabaddi.
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

lobby (third-person singular simple present lobbies, present participle lobbying, simple past and past participle lobbied)

  1. (intransitive, transitive) To attempt to influence (a public official or decision-maker) in favor of a specific opinion or cause.
    For years, pro-life groups have continued to lobby hard for restrictions on abortion.
    • 2002, Jim Hightower, in Wikiquote
      The corporations don't have to lobby the government anymore. They are the government.
    • 2013 August 10, Schumpeter, Cronies and capitols”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
      Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector.
Translations
Related terms

Etymology 2

Noun

lobby (uncountable)

  1. (informal) scouse (from lobscouse)
    • My mam cooked us lobby for tea last night.

French

Etymology

Borrowing from English lobby.

Noun

lobby m (plural lobbies)

  1. lobby (hall)
  2. lobby (advocacy group)

Synonyms


Italian

Etymology

Borrowing from English lobby.

Noun

lobby f (invariable)

  1. lobby (group of people; hall of a bank)

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowing from English lobby.

Pronunciation

  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈlɔ.bi/

Noun

lobby m (plural lobbies or lobbys (rare))

  1. (politics) lobby (group of people who try to influence public officials)
  2. lobby (reception area of a large building)
  3. (Internet) lobby (virtual area where users find other users to a start a private conversation or video-game match with)

Synonyms


Spanish

Etymology

Borrowing from English lobby.

Noun

lobby m (plural lobbys)

  1. lobby (group of people who try to influence public officials)