lobby

An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor.

• I had to wait in the lobby for hours before seeing the doctor.

That part of a hall of legislation not appropriated to the official use of the assembly.

A class or group of interested people who try to influence public officials; collectively, lobbyists.

• Near-synonym: special interest
• The influence of the tobacco lobby has decreased considerably in the US.

A virtual area where meeting attendees can await admittance from an authorized person.

A virtual area where players can chat and find opponents for a game.

An apartment or passageway in the fore part of an old-fashioned cabin under the quarter-deck.

A confined place for cattle, formed by hedges, trees, or other fencing, near the farmyard.

• Near-synonyms: cowyard, paddock

A margin along either side of the playing field in the sport of kabaddi.

A waiting area in front of a bank of elevators.

• Ranger Leslie Thompson, assigned to elevator duty, brought the elevator to the surface about 12:30 to bring down the tourists who were in the lobby of the elevator tower at that time.

To attempt to influence (a public official or decision-maker) in favor of a specific opinion or cause.intransitivetransitive

• For years, pro-life groups have continued to lobby hard for restrictions on abortion.
• 2002, Jim Hightower, in Wikiquote The corporations don't have to lobby the government anymore. They are the government.

lobscouseWest-Midlandsuncountable

• My mam cooked us lobby for tea last night.