area

/ˈɛriə/
/ˈɛəriə/
IPA guide

Other forms: areas

The area is a part of a place, usually defined by a function. If you can't stop talking, don't sit in the quiet area of the library.

In Latin, area means a vacant piece of ground, but we use it in English to talk about a region or place that's a subset of another larger region. The boarding area in the airport is the space right next to the door. Area is also used to describe topics or subjects of study or work. Within a big history department, professors have different areas of specialty, from medieval economics to urban American politics.

Definitions of area
  1. noun
    the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary
    “the area of a rectangle”
    “it was about 500 square feet in area”
    synonyms: expanse, surface area
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 11 types...
    hide 11 types...
    acreage, land area
    an area of ground used for some particular purpose (such as building or farming)
    footprint
    the area taken up by some object
    erasure
    a surface area where something has been erased
    blank space, place, space
    a blank area
    space
    one of the areas between or below or above the lines of a musical staff
    balk, baulk
    the area on a billiard table behind the balkline
    plane section, section
    (geometry) the area created by a plane cutting through a solid
    segment
    the area of a circle bounded by a chord and an arc of the circle
    margin
    the blank space that surrounds the text on a page
    indent, indentation, indention, indenture
    the space left between the margin and the start of an indented line
    cross section
    a section created by a plane cutting a solid perpendicular to its longest axis
    type of:
    extent
    the distance or area or volume over which something extends
  2. noun
    a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
    “it was a mountainous area”
    synonyms: country
    see moresee less
    examples:
    Bermuda Triangle
    an area in the western Atlantic Ocean where many ships and planes are supposed to have been mysteriously lost
    types:
    show 72 types...
    hide 72 types...
    arena
    the central area of an ancient Roman amphitheater where contests and spectacles were held; especially an area that was strewn with sand
    high country
    an area lying above the piedmont but below the timberline
    bed ground, bed-ground, bedground
    an area on which a drove of cattle or sheep can sleep for a night
    broadcast area
    the area over which a radio or tv transmission can be received
    center, centre, eye, heart, middle
    an area that is approximately central within some larger region
    corner
    a place off to the side of an area
    corner
    a remote area
    disaster area
    a region whose population is affected by a general disaster
    hangout, haunt, repair, resort, stamping ground
    a frequently visited place
    fireside, hearth
    an area near a fireplace (usually paved and extending out into a room)
    hunting ground
    an area in which game is hunted
    no-go area
    an area that is dangerous or impossible to enter or to which entry is forbidden
    no man's land
    an unoccupied area between the front lines of opposing armies
    quadrant
    the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle
    quadrant
    any of the four areas into which a plane is divided by two orthogonal coordinate axes
    rain shadow
    an area that has little precipitation because some barrier causes the winds to lose their moisture before reaching it
    staging area
    an area where troops and equipment in transit are assembled before a military operation
    clear, open
    a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
    free port, free zone
    an area adjoining a port where goods that are intended for reshipment can be received and stored without payment of duties
    anchorage, anchorage ground
    place for vessels to anchor
    playground, resort area, vacation spot
    an area where many people go for recreation
    block, city block
    a rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings
    neighborhood
    an area within a city or town that has some distinctive features (especially one forming a community)
    retreat
    a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
    refuge, safety
    a safe place
    danger
    a dangerous place
    scene
    the place where some action occurs
    section
    a distinct region or subdivision of a territorial or political area or community or group of people
    shrubbery
    an area where a number of shrubs are planted
    space
    an area reserved for some particular purpose
    tank farm
    an area used exclusively for storing petroleum in large tanks
    winner's circle
    a small area at a racecourse where awards are given to the owners of winning horses
    center stage, centre stage
    the central area on a theater stage
    central city, city center, city centre
    the central part of a city
    storm center, storm centre
    the central area or place of lowest barometric pressure within a storm
    outskirts
    outlying areas (as of a city or town)
    financial center
    the part of a city where financial institutions are centered
    hub
    a center of activity or interest or commerce or transportation; a focal point around which events revolve
    inner city
    the older and more populated and (usually) poorer central section of a city
    air space, airspace
    the space in the atmosphere immediately above the earth
    crawl space, crawlspace
    low space beneath a floor of a building; gives workers access to wiring or plumbing
    disc space, disk space
    (computer science) the space available on a magnetic disk