Lobby
Lobby , noun
[Late Latin lobium, lobia, laubia, a covered portico fit for walking, from Old High German louba, German laube, arbor. See Lodge.]
1.
(Architecture) 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.
2.
That part of a hall of legislation not appropriated to the official use of the assembly; hence, the persons, collectively, who frequent such a place to transact business with the legislators;
any persons, not members of a legislative body, who strive to influence its proceedings by personal agency; a group of lobbyists for a particular cause; as, the drug industry lobby. [United States]
3.
(Nautical) An apartment or passageway in the fore part of an old-fashioned cabin under the quarter-deck.
4.
(Agriculture) A confined place for cattle, formed by hedges. trees, or other fencing, near the farmyard.
Collocations (1)
Lobby member , a lobbyist. [Humorous cant, United States]
Lobby , intransitive verb
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. [United States] — Bartlett
Lobby , transitive verb
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. [United States]