balcony

[bal-kuh-nee]

noun

plural

balconies 

1. a balustraded or railed elevated platform projecting from the wall of a building.

2. a gallery in a theater.

balcony

/ ˈbælkənɪ /

noun

1. a platform projecting from the wall of a building with a balustrade or railing along its outer edge, often with access from a door or window

2. a gallery in a theatre or auditorium, above the dress circle

3. any circle or gallery in a theatre or auditorium including the dress circle

Other Word Forms

• balconied adjective
• unbalconied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of balcony¹

1610–20; < Italian balcone balcony, floor-length window < Langobardic (compare Old High German balc ( h ) o, accusative singular balcon beam; balk ); sense extended from the beam over an aperture to the aperture itself

Word History and Origins

Origin of balcony¹

C17: from Italian balcone , probably from Old High German balko beam; see _balk

Example Sentences

With its stage balcony, ceiling fans and rows of steel chairs with red cushions, the hall carried the vibe of an old single-screen theatre.

From BBC

"Large full-height sliding doors and full-height glazed walls seamlessly blend indoors and out – opening spaces to gardens, courtyards and balconies. It is difficult to see where the building ends and the gardens begin."

From BBC

On Saturday I was coming home at 1am from a party and one of the older residents was on their balcony waving at me.

From BBC

People living near Chang'an Avenue, which leads to Tiananmen square, were told to stay off their balconies to ensure the rehearsals could be held in secrecy.

From BBC

The brick and wrought-iron balconies were twisted in the blast, some hanging by a thread.

From BBC

Related Words

• box 
• gallery 
• mezzanine 
• platform 
• porch 
• stoop 
• terrace 
• veranda