ˈlɔbɪ n. & v. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 a
porch,
ante-room, entrance-hall, or
corridor. 2 a (in
the House of Commons) a
large hall used
esp.
for interviews
between MPs and members of the
public. b (also
division lobby)
each of
two corridors to
which MPs
retire to
vote. 3 a a
body of persons seeking to
influence legislators on
behalf of a
particular interest (the anti-abortion lobby). b an organized
attempt by members of the public to influence legislators (a lobby of MPs). 4 (prec. by the) (in the UK) a
group of journalists
who receive unattributable briefings
from the
government (lobby correspondent). --v. (-ies, -ied) 1 tr.
solicit the
support of (an
influential person). 2 tr. (of members of the public)
seek to influence (the members of a legislature). 3 intr.
frequent a
parliamentary lobby. 4 tr. (foll. by through)
get (a bill etc.)
through a
legislature, by interviews etc. in the lobby. øølobbyer n. lobbyism n. lobbyist n. [med.L lobia, lobium LODGE]