antechamber

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

antechamber
    n 1: a large entrance or reception room or area [syn:
         {anteroom}, {antechamber}, {entrance hall}, {hall},
         {foyer}, {lobby}, {vestibule}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Antechamber \An"te*cham`ber\, n. [Cf. F. antichambre.]
   1. A chamber or apartment before the chief apartment and
      leading into it, in which persons wait for audience; an
      outer chamber. See {Lobby}.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A space viewed as the outer chamber or the entrance to an
      interior part.
      [1913 Webster]

            The mouth, the antechamber to the digestive canal.
                                                  --Todd &
                                                  Bowman.
      [1913 Webster]