Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - lobby

~1 n 1 a wide passage or large hall just inside the entrance to a public building  (a hotel lobby)  (- compare foyer (1)) 2 a group of people who try to persuade a government that a particular law or situation should be changed  (The tobacco lobby is trying to change the no smoking laws.)  (- see also lobby2) 3 an attempt to persuade a government to change a law, make a new law etc + of  (a mass lobby of Parliament by women's organizations)  (- see also lobby2) 4 a) a hall in the British Parliament where members of parliament and the public meet b) one of the two passages in the British Parliament where members go to vote for or against a bill1 (2) ~2 v to try to persuade the government or someone with political power that a law or situation should be changed + for/agains  (The group is lobbying for a reduction in defense spending.) lobby sb to do sth  (We've been lobbying our State Representative to support the new health plan.) - lobbyist n  ( @lobby through lobby sth through phr v to get a law officially approved by the government by lobbying  (After months of debate the bill was finally lobbied through Parliament) @ )