parlor

US: /ˈpɑrlɚ/ ,(pär′lər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•lor /ˈpɑrlɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a room in a home for receiving visitors:
   a front parlor.
2. British Terms a shop or business establishment:
   a funeral parlor; a beauty parlor.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] parlour. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•lor  (pär′lər), n. 

1. [Older Use.] a room for the reception and entertainment of visitors to one's home;
   living room.
2. British Terms a room, apartment, or building serving as a place of business for certain businesses or professions:
   funeral parlor; beauty parlor.
3. British Terms a somewhat private room in a hotel, club, or the like for relaxation, conversation, etc.;
   lounge.
4. Architecture, Religion Also called locutorium. a room in a monastery or the like where the inhabitants may converse with visitors or with each other.

adj. 

5. British Terms, Government advocating something, as a political view or doctrine, at a safe remove from actual involvement in or commitment to action:
   parlor leftism; parlor pink.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] parlour. 

• Anglo-French; Old French parleor, equivalent. to parl(er) to speak (see parle) + -eor -or²
• Middle English parlur 1175–1225

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•lour  (pär′lər), n., adj. [Chiefly Brit.]

1. British Terms, Pronouns parlor.

Usage

See -or ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

parlour, parlor / ˈpɑːlə/ noun

1. a living room, esp one kept tidy for the reception of visitors
2. a reception room in a priest's house, convent, etc
3. a small room for guests away from the public rooms in an inn, club, etc
4. a room or shop equipped as a place of business: a billiard parlor
5. a small shop, esp one selling cakes and nonalcoholic drinks
6. Also called: milking parlour a building equipped for the milking of cows

Etymology: 13th Century: from Anglo-Norman parlur, from Old French parleur room in convent for receiving guests, from parler to speak; see parley