'Cupboard' is the generic term for any kind of box-like thing with shelves and a hinged door used for storage. You also get kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets, and chests of drawers, and wardrobes.
I'd agree with the other British posters that a pantry is a separate room found in large old houses next to the kitchen, used for storing food before refrigerators were invented. On which note, in my own case "That thing in the kitchen for storing food" is called a "fridge" or a "freezer", but I ticked "cupboard" since you didn't give that option. :-)
A closet is also a small room which is private, either for getting dressed in or going to the toilet in (hence, water closet = a closet with plumbing.) It's also where you hide if you don't want people to know you're gay.
A wardrobe would normally be a tall cupboard large enough to hang a suit or a dress in without folding them, but you can also have built-in wardrobes. An armoire is a French wardrobe, or a particular style of antique wooden wardrobe.
No, because I don't think anyone except possibly the Queen would have one nowadays. But to me, a closet definitely suggests a room rather than a cupboard.
The first definition in the Oxford English Dictionary is: A room for privacy or retirement; a private room; an inner chamber.
If you get down to definition 3b, you'll see this:
A small side-room or recess for storing utensils, provisions, etc.; a cupboard. (Not very distinct from 4.) The normal N. Amer. usage.
A closet is, basically, a place where you put your clothes (excepting hall closets or linen closets. I'm just talking bedroom closets). A closet could be a walk-in or it could be a wall closet (absolutely no space to walk in). My sis has a huge walk-in closet that basically acts as a tiny room. I guess she could get dressed in it. But most closets I've seen...well, you don't dress in them. You just fetch your clothes and then dress in the bedroom.
See, "wardrobe", to me, is more likely to mean a person's collection of clothes. Like when you talk about "needing a new wardrobe". You're talking about getting new clothes cause you're bored with your old ones.
"Wardrobe" as a piece of furniture only exists in hoity-toity nancy countries.
I don't generally think of a wardrobe as a piece of furniture. (I mean, my old bedroom had one, because there wasn't a built-in wardrobe - but that's a bit unusual.) It's just... the cupboard the clothes go in.
Like when you talk about "needing a new wardrobe".
I don't think I've ever heard anyone say this except Americans on TV.
You dress in walk-in closets? I've never known anyone to do so. I mean, walk-in closets are...walk-in-able, but there's not exactly room to dress in them. You just grab your clothes and get out.
Well, I don't, since I've never had a walk-in closet. But I imagine that would be one of the benefits of having one. I suppose it depends how big it is - I've seen some that are certainly large enough to dress in.
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Date: 2010-04-21 11:37 am (UTC)I'd agree with the other British posters that a pantry is a separate room found in large old houses next to the kitchen, used for storing food before refrigerators were invented. On which note, in my own case "That thing in the kitchen for storing food" is called a "fridge" or a "freezer", but I ticked "cupboard" since you didn't give that option. :-)
A closet is also a small room which is private, either for getting dressed in or going to the toilet in (hence, water closet = a closet with plumbing.) It's also where you hide if you don't want people to know you're gay.
A wardrobe would normally be a tall cupboard large enough to hang a suit or a dress in without folding them, but you can also have built-in wardrobes. An armoire is a French wardrobe, or a particular style of antique wooden wardrobe.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-21 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-21 10:38 pm (UTC)The first definition in the Oxford English Dictionary is:
A room for privacy or retirement; a private room; an inner chamber.
If you get down to definition 3b, you'll see this:
A small side-room or recess for storing utensils, provisions, etc.; a cupboard. (Not very distinct from 4.) The normal N. Amer. usage.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-21 11:04 pm (UTC)A closet is, basically, a place where you put your clothes (excepting hall closets or linen closets. I'm just talking bedroom closets). A closet could be a walk-in or it could be a wall closet (absolutely no space to walk in). My sis has a huge walk-in closet that basically acts as a tiny room. I guess she could get dressed in it. But most closets I've seen...well, you don't dress in them. You just fetch your clothes and then dress in the bedroom.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-21 11:07 pm (UTC)The thing you keep clothes in is a wardrobe.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-21 11:10 pm (UTC)"Wardrobe" as a piece of furniture only exists in hoity-toity nancy countries.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-21 11:13 pm (UTC)Like when you talk about "needing a new wardrobe".
I don't think I've ever heard anyone say this except Americans on TV.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 01:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 04:44 pm (UTC)And a wardrobe is definitely either a new set of clothes or some fancy piece of furniture. Ooh!! Like in Beauty & the Beast!
This (http://www.fi-donc.nl/collectibles/wdcc/2002dresser2002.jpg) is what Americans think of when someone says wardrobe.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 01:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 02:05 am (UTC)For a minute I was like "THEY FORCE THE GAY PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE BATHROOMS IN ENGLANDoh waiiiiiit I'm stupid."
no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 08:29 am (UTC)