From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlobbylob‧by1 /ˈlɒbi $ ˈlɑːbi/ ●○○ noun (plural lobbies) [countable] 1 TBBa wide passage or large hall just inside the entrance to a public building SYN foyer a hotel lobby I’ll meet you in the entrance lobby.2 a) PGPa hall in the British parliament where members of parliament and the public meet b) PPVone of the two passages in the British parliament where members go to vote for or against a bill3 BBa group of people who try to persuade a government that a particular law or situation should be changed the anti-foxhunting lobby a powerful environmental lobby groupGRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?• In this meaning, lobby is usually followed by a singular verb: The business lobby has warned the government against raising taxes.• In British English, you can also use a plural verb: The business lobby have warned the government against raising taxes.4 PPPERSUADEan attempt to persuade a government to change a law, make a new law etc a mass lobby of Parliament by women’s organizations
Examples from the Corpus
lobby• Both classes shared a lobby which had racks on two levels for coats.• Perhaps it is time to recognise that the country-sport vote and lobby should also be taken seriously.• The law has the support of the gun-control lobby.• It is a textbook case of how effectively corporate lobbies work in Brussels, not just Washington.• In his lobby the building management had set up a television screen so that the doorman could watch for criminals.• But the minister had not allowed for pressure from a powerful lobby, that of family associations and pro-life groups.• The tropical plants in the lobby, I notice, are fake as well.• He walked from the Red Field into the lobby and there was no place to sit.• And then we were going down the stairs to the lobby.lobbylobby2 ●○○ verb (lobbied, lobbying, lobbies) [intransitive, transitive] PPPERSUADEto try to persuade the government or someone with political power that a law or situation should be changedlobby for/against The group is lobbying for a reduction in defence spending.lobby somebody to do something We’ve been lobbying our state representative to support the new health plan. —lobbyist noun [countable]→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
lobby• Perhaps it's time to begin lobbying?• Clinton vetoed the bill after being lobbied by trial lawyers, but Congress overrode the veto.• About half the money Raytheon spent lobbying last year went to four government lobbyists and strategists.• The president's lobbying on behalf of his programme was uneven and spasmodic.• We need to lobby our leaders to work for peace and to use its dividends wisely.• Please encourage class members to lobby their local councils about cuts in classes, either personally or by petition.• Wright said lobbying to keep red tape and regulatory cost to a minimum for local companies will be a priority.lobby for/against• Honestly, if an alien anthropologist landed there he might have mistaken the lobby for a flamingo park.• A state politician who also lived in Oak Ridge lobbied for changes in the rules.• Hours later, police were still combing the blood-smeared lobby for evidence.• Political pressure for these latter proposals came from the police themselves, who now formed a strong lobby for increased state regulation.• Price lobbied hard for passage of the helmet law.• The steering group would also lobby for rail improvements.• No pressure group within the medical profession is lobbying for the right to save men's lives by regularly examining the prostate.From Longman Business Dictionarylobbylob‧by1 /ˈlɒbiˈlɑːbi/ noun (plural lobbies) [countable]1a group of people with similar interests who try to persuade a government that a particular law or situation should be changedOpposition to the new law is expected from India’s industry lobby.The Prime Minister is still under pressure from the farm lobby.2an attempt by a group of people to persuade members of a government that a particular law or situation should be changedlobby ofA mass lobby of parliament is planned for next week.lobbylobby2 verb (past tense and past participle lobbied) [intransitive, transitive] to try to persuade a government that a particular law or situation should be changedThe financial community is expected to continue lobbying Congress to introduce new legislation.lobby againstIndustrialists are already lobbying against the reforms.lobby forSmall firms are lobbying for a change to the law. —lobbying noun [uncountable]The decision followed intense lobbying by banks.The industry launched a huge lobbying campaign to persuade the government to change its mind.The corporation hired a lobbying firm to put its case to government.→ See Verb tableOrigin lobby1 (1500-1600) Medieval Latin lobium “covered way for walking” 