atrium.

An open or roof-lit central space within a building, often extending through several floors.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• glass-roofed atrium
• central atrium
• balconies overlooking the atrium

On the page

The office atrium smelled of coffee from the kiosk below.

Every floor opened onto the atrium, so departures were difficult to hide.

Rain ticked against the glass roof of the atrium during the concert.

Usage notes

Primary category: architecture. In modern buildings often glazed above; historically also the central court of a Roman house. Count noun: atriums or atria.