'Whispering gallery' definitions:

Definition of 'whispering gallery'

From: WordNet
noun
A space beneath a dome or arch in which sounds produced at certain points are clearly audible at certain distant points [syn: whispering gallery, whispering dome]

Definition of 'Whispering gallery'

From: GCIDE
  • Whispering \Whis"per*ing\, a. & n. from Whisper. v. t. [1913 Webster]
  • Whispering gallery, or Whispering dome, one of such a form that sounds produced in certain parts of it are concentrated by reflection from the walls to another part, so that whispers or feeble sounds are audible at a much greater distance than under ordinary circumstances. The dome of the U. S. capitol building is one example. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Definition of 'Whispering gallery'

From: GCIDE
  • Gallery \Gal"ler*y\, n.; pl. Galleries. [F. galerie, It. galleria, fr. LL. galeria gallery, perh. orig., a festal hall, banquetting hall; cf. OF. galerie a rejoicing, fr. galer to rejoice. Cf. Gallant, a.]
  • 1. A long and narrow corridor, or place for walking; a connecting passageway, as between one room and another; also, a long hole or passage excavated by a boring or burrowing animal. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A room for the exhibition of works of art; as, a picture gallery; hence, also, a large or important collection of paintings, sculptures, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A long and narrow platform attached to one or more sides of public hall or the interior of a church, and supported by brackets or columns; -- sometimes intended to be occupied by musicians or spectators, sometimes designed merely to increase the capacity of the hall. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Naut.) A frame, like a balcony, projecting from the stern or quarter of a ship, and hence called stern gallery or quarter gallery, -- seldom found in vessels built since 1850. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Fort.) Any communication which is covered overhead as well as at the sides. When prepared for defense, it is a defensive gallery. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Mining) A working drift or level. [1913 Webster]
  • Whispering gallery. See under Whispering. [1913 Webster]