whispering gallery

noun

a space or gallery beneath a dome or broad arch in which low sounds produced at any of certain points are clearly audible at certain other distant points.

Origin of whispering gallery

First recorded in 1690–1700

Words nearby whispering gallery

whisper, whispered, whisperer, whispering, whispering campaign, whispering gallery, whisperous, whispery, whist, whist drive, whistle

Example sentences from the Web for whispering gallery

  • The form of a whispering-gallery is that of a segment of a sphere, or the like arched figure.

    The Book of Curiosities |I. Platts

  • Two lovers dwell in the Whispering-gallery, where the faintest breath bodies itself forth into a sound.

    Translations from the German (Vol 3 of 3) |Thomas Carlyle

  • London discussions might as well go on in the whispering-gallery of St. Paul's.

    The Path Of Duty |Henry James

  • It is a news bureau—a parliament—a part of the whispering-gallery of the world.

    Cyrus Hall McCormick |Herbert Newton Casson

British Dictionary definitions for whispering gallery

whispering gallery

noun

a gallery or dome with acoustic characteristics such that a sound made at one point is audible at distant points