room / roōm; roŏm/ • n. 1. space that can be occupied or where something can be done, esp. viewed in terms of whether there is enough: there's only room for a single bed in there| she was trapped without room to move. ∎ fig. opportunity or scope for something to happen or be done, esp. without causing trouble or damage: there is plenty of room for disagreement in this controversial area there is room for improvement.2. a part or division of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling: he wandered from room to room. ∎  (rooms) a set of rooms, typically rented, in which a person, couple, or family live: my rooms at Mrs. Jenks's house. ∎  [in sing.] the people present in a room: the whole room burst into an uproar of approval.• v. [intr.] share a room or house or flat, esp. a rented one at a college or similar institution: I was rooming with my cousin. ∎  [tr.] provide with a shared room or lodging: they roomed us together.PHRASES: make room move aside or move something aside to allow someone to enter or pass or to clear space for something: the secretary entered with the coffee tray and made room for it on the desk.no (or not) room to swing a cat humorous used in reference to a very confined space.smoke-filled room used to refer to political bargaining or decision-making that is conducted privately by a small group of influential people rather than more openly or democratically.DERIVATIVES: roomed adj. [in comb.] a four-roomed house.room·ful / -ˌfoŏl/ n. (pl. -fuls) .