mezzanine
MEZ-uh-neen
/ˈmezəniːn/
A low story between two main stories of a building, often in the form of a balcony overlooking the floor below.
It is a 'half-floor' that doesn't cover the entire area of the building.
The story behind the word. From the Italian 'mezzano', meaning 'middle'. It describes its position between the ground floor and the first floor.
Word relationships
- balcony: A balcony is usually smaller and often outdoors; a mezzanine is a functional indoor floor.
Commonly confused with
- atrium: An atrium is the empty space; a mezzanine is the floor that looks into that space.
Collocations
- mezzanine floor
- mezzanine level
- overlooking the mezzanine
Example sentences
- "From the mezzanine, you could look down at the bustling crowds in the lobby below." Describing a building's layout.
Memory hook
The 'Mezzanine' is in the 'Mezzo' (middle). The middle-man of floors.
When not to use
Do not use for a full main floor or a basement.
Fun facts
- In theaters, the mezzanine is the lowest balcony or the front rows of the first balcony.
Explore more words
vestibule, translucent, load-bearing, foundation, portico, betwixt
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