gallery

gal|ler|y [ `gæl(ə)ri ] noun **

1. ) count a public building where you can look at paintings and other works of art:

the National Portrait Gallery

She spent her free time visiting galleries and museums.

a ) a room in a museum or gallery containing paintings or other works of art:

The Turner exhibit occupies all the galleries on the first floor.

b ) a private building where you can look at and buy paintings and other types of art:

His work was last shown at the Peter Nathan gallery in Zurich.

2. ) count an upper level in a building such as a church, court, etc: BALCONY:

Reporters and members of the public packed the Senate gallery.

a ) OLD-FASHIONED the highest level of a theater where the least expensive seats are

3. ) count a passage or long narrow room inside a building

a ) an underground passage in a mine or CAVE: TUNNEL

4. ) singular gallery of a group of similar people or things:

a gallery of balding middle-aged men

play to the gallery

to say what you think people want to hear in order to gain popularity:

The senator has been accused of playing to the gallery rather than taking a stand on the issues.

=> PEANUT GALLERY, PRESS GALLERY, SHOOTING GALLERY