area

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

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

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types:
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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
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

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examples:
Bermuda Triangle
an area in the western Atlantic Ocean where many ships and planes are supposed to have been mysteriously lost

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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

medical center
the part of a city where medical facilities are centered

midfield
(sports) the middle part of a playing field (as in football or lacrosse)

flies
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

gathering place
a favorite haunt where people gather

key, paint
(basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court

no-parking zone
a space where automobiles are not allowed to park

parking space, parking zone
a space where an automobile can be parked

berth, moorage, mooring, slip
a place where a craft can be made fast

roads, roadstead
a partly sheltered anchorage

locality, neck of the woods, neighborhood, neighbourhood, vicinity
a surrounding or nearby region

ashram
(India) a place of religious retreat for Hindus

ashram
a place of religious retreat modeled after the Indian ashram

nook
a sheltered and secluded place

nest
a cosy or secluded retreat

pleasance
a pleasant and secluded part of a garden; usually attached to a mansion

harborage, harbourage
(nautical) a place of refuge (as for a ship)

sanctum, sanctum sanctorum
a place of inviolable privacy

light
an illuminated area

dark, darkness, shadow
an unilluminated area

field of honor
the scene of a duel

stage
any scene regarded as a setting for exhibiting or doing something

separation
the space where a division or parting occurs

place, seat
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

seat
a center of authority (as a city from which authority is exercised)

terreplein
level space where heavy guns can be mounted behind the parapet at the top of a rampart

locale, locus, venue
the scene of any event or action (especially the place of a meeting)

spa, watering hole, watering place
a health resort near a spring or at the seaside

workspace
space allocated for your work (as in an office)

borscht belt, borscht circuit, borsht belt, borsht circuit
(informal) a resort area in the Catskill Mountains of New York that was patronized primarily by Jewish guests

midstream
the middle of a stream

type of:
region
a large indefinite location on the surface of the Earth
noun
a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function

“the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants”

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types:
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aisle
part of a church divided laterally from the nave proper by rows of pillars or columns

auditorium
the area of a theater or concert hall where the audience sits

baggage claim
an area in an airport where arriving passengers can collect the luggage that has been carried in the hold of the aircraft

box
any one of several designated areas on a ball field where the batter or catcher or coaches are positioned

breakfast area, breakfast nook
a place for light meals (usually near a kitchen)

bullpen
a place on a baseball field where relief pitchers can warm up during a game

bema, chancel, sanctuary
area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing

choir
the area occupied by singers; the part of the chancel between sanctuary and nave

corner, nook
an interior angle formed by two meeting walls

court, courtyard
an area wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings

dead-air space
an unventilated area where no air circulates

dining area
an area arranged for dining

enclosure
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose

goalmouth
(sports) the area immediately in front of the goal

hideaway, retreat
an area where you can be alone

nave
the central area of a church

orchestra pit, pit
lowered area in front of a stage where an orchestra accompanies the performers

panopticon
an area where everything is visible

patio, terrace
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence

pit
(auto racing) an area at the side of a racetrack where the race cars are serviced and refueled

pit
(commodity exchange) the part of the floor of a commodity exchange where trading in a particular commodity is carried on

press gallery
an area (sometimes in a balcony) set aside for reporters (especially in a legislative hall)

lay-by, layby, pull-off, rest area, rest stop
designated paved area beside a main road where cars can stop temporarily

quad, quadrangle
a rectangular area surrounded on all sides by buildings

room
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

family circle, peanut gallery, second balcony, upper balcony
rearmost or uppermost area in the balcony containing the least expensive seats

storage space
the area in any structure that provides space for storage

threshing floor
a floor or ground area for threshing or treading out grain

turnaround
an area sufficiently large for a vehicle to turn around

median
a paved or landscaped dividing area between opposing lanes of travel on a highway

amen corner
area reserved for persons leading the responsive `amens'

anechoic chamber
a chamber having very little reverberation

antechamber, anteroom, entrance hall, foyer, hall, lobby, vestibule
an outer room or waiting area that leads into another room

assembly hall
a hall where many people can congregate

atrium
the central area in a building; open to the sky

back room
a room located in the rear of an establishment; usually accessible only to privileged groups

bailey
the outer courtyard of a castle

ballroom, dance hall, dance palace
large room used mainly for dancing

bar, barroom, ginmill, saloon, taproom, watering hole
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

bath, bathroom
a room (as in a residence) containing a bathtub or shower and usually a washbasin and toilet

batter's box
an area on a baseball diamond (on either side of home plate) marked by lines within which the batter must stand when at bat

bedchamber, bedroom, chamber, sleeping accommodation, sleeping room
a room used primarily for sleeping

belfry
a room (often at the top of a tower) where bells are hung

billiard hall, billiard parlor, billiard parlour, billiard room, billiard saloon
a room in which billiards is played

boardroom, council chamber
a room where a committee meets (such as the board of directors of a company)

cache
a hidden storage space (for money or provisions or weapons)

cage, coop
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept

cardroom
a room for gambling on card games

cargo area, cargo deck, cargo hold, hold, storage area
the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

catchall
an enclosure or receptacle for odds and ends

cell, jail cell, prison cell
a room where a prisoner is kept

cell, cubicle
small room in which a monk or nun lives

cellar, wine cellar
storage space where wines are stored

chamber
a natural or artificial enclosed space

chamber
a room where a judge transacts business

checkroom, left-luggage office
a room where baggage or parcels are checked

chimney corner, inglenook
a corner by a fireplace

classroom, schoolroom
a room in a school where lessons take place

clean room, white room
a room that is virtually free of dust or bacteria; used in laboratory work and in assembly or repair of precision equipment

cloakroom, coatroom
a room where coats and other articles can be left temporarily

cloister
a courtyard with covered walks (as in religious institutions)

closet
a small private room for study or prayer

clubroom
a room used for the activities of a club

compartment
a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area

compound
an enclosure of residences and other buildings (especially in the Orient)

conference room
a room in which a conference can be held

control room
a room housing control equipment (as in a recording studio)

court, courtroom
a room in which a lawcourt sits

cubby, cubbyhole, snug, snuggery
a small secluded room

closet, cupboard
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

cutting room
a room where films or tapes are edited (by cutting out unwanted parts)

darkroom
a room in which photographs are developed

den
a room that is comfortable and secluded

dinette
a small area off of a kitchen that is used for dining

dining room, dining-room
a room used for dining

dock
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial

door
a room that is entered via a door

drawer
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out

dressing room
a room in which you can change clothes

durbar
the room in the palace of a native prince of India in which audiences and receptions occur

echo chamber
an enclosed space for producing reverberation of a sound

engine room, engineering
a room (as on a ship) in which the engine is located

floor, trading floor
a large room in a exchange where the trading is done

food court
an area (as in a shopping mall) where fast food is sold (usually around a common eating area)

forecourt
the outer or front court of a building or of a group of buildings

furnace room
a room (usually in the basement of a building) that contains a furnace for heating the building

gallery
a long usually narrow room used for some specific purpose

art gallery, gallery, picture gallery
a room or series of rooms where works of art are exhibited

greenroom
a backstage room in a theater where performers rest or have visitors

guardroom
a room used by soldiers on guard

hall
a large room for gatherings or entertainment

hospital room
a room in a hospital for the care of patients

kitchen
a room equipped for preparing meals

library
a room where books are kept

front room, living room, living-room, parlor, parlour, sitting room
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

lock, lock chamber
enclosure consisting of a section of canal that can be closed to control the water level; used to raise or lower vessels that pass through it

locker room
a room (as at an athletic facility or workplace) where you can change clothes and which contains lockers for the temporary storage of your clothing and personal possessions

lounge, waiting area, waiting room
a room (as in a hotel or airport) with seating where people can wait

hall, manor hall
the large room of a manor or castle

nacelle
a streamlined enclosure for an aircraft engine

parvis
a courtyard or portico in front of a building (especially a cathedral)

pen
an enclosure for confining livestock

pit
an enclosure in which animals are made to fight

pen, playpen
a portable enclosure in which babies may be left to play

plenum
an enclosed space in which the air pressure is higher than outside

poolroom
a room with pool tables where pool is played

dog pound, pound
a public enclosure for stray or unlicensed dogs

presence chamber
room in which a monarch or other great person receives guests, assemblies, etc.

rathole
a small dirty uncomfortable room

reading room
a room set aside for reading

reception room
a room for receiving and entertaining visitors (as in a private house or hotel)

niche, recess
an enclosure that is set back or indented

rec room, recreation room
a room equipped for informal entertaining

cellar, root cellar
an excavation where root vegetables are stored

rotunda
a large circular room

scriptorium
a room in a monastery that is set aside for writing or copying manuscripts

scullery
a small room (in large old British houses) next to the kitchen; where kitchen utensils are cleaned and kept and other rough household jobs are done

sewing room
a room set aside for sewing

shipping room
a room where goods are packaged and shipped

shower room
a room with several showers

saleroom, salesroom, showroom
an area where merchandise (such as cars) can be displayed

sick berth, sickbay
(nautical) a room for the treatment of the sick or injured (as on a ship)

sickroom
a room to which a sick person is confined

smoking room
room in a hotel or club set apart for smokers

squad room
a room in a barracks where soldiers are billeted

squad room
a room in a police station where members of the force assemble for roll call and duty assignments

stacks
storage space in a library consisting of an extensive arrangement of bookshelves where most of the books are stored

steam bath, steam room, vapor bath, vapour bath
a room that can be filled with steam in which people bathe; `vapour bath' is a British term

storage room, storeroom, stowage
a room in which things are stored

study
a room used for reading and writing and studying

solarium, sun lounge, sun parlor, sun parlour, sun porch, sunporch, sunroom
a room enclosed largely with glass and affording exposure to the sun

solar trap, suntrap
a terrace or garden oriented to take advantage of the sun while protected from cold winds

surgery
a room where a doctor or dentist can be consulted

television room, tv room
a room set aside for viewing television

test room, testing room
a room in which tests are conducted

bathroom, can, john, lav, lavatory, privy, toilet
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

torture chamber
a room in which torture is inflicted

sacristy, vestry
a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept or meetings are held

vivarium
an indoor enclosure for keeping and raising living animals and plants and observing them under natural conditions

walk-in
a small room large enough to admit entrance

war room
a room where strategic decisions are made (especially for military or political campaigns)

workroom
room where work is done

yard
an enclosure for animals (as chicken or livestock)

type of:
construction, structure
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
noun
a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve

synonyms: region

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erogenous zone
any area of the body especially sensitive to sexual stimulation

pressure point
an area on the skin that is highly sensitive to pressure

hypochondrium
the upper region of the abdomen just below the lowest ribs on either side of the epigastrium

area of cardiac dullness
a triangular area of the front of the chest (determined by percussion); corresponds to the part of the heart not covered by the lungs

epigastrium
the region lying on or over the stomach (just below the sternum)

fovea, fovea centralis
area consisting of a small depression in the retina containing cones and where vision is most acute

parafovea
area of the retina immediately surrounding the fovea

macula, macula lutea, macular area, yellow spot
a small yellowish central area of the retina that is rich in cones and that mediates clear detailed vision

cortical area, cortical region
any of various regions of the cerebral cortex

perineum
the general region between the anus and the genital organs

side
either the left or right half of a body

cleavage
the line formed by a groove between two parts (especially the separation between a woman's breasts)

areola, ring of color
small circular area such as that around the human nipple or an inflamed area around a pimple or insect bite

middle, midriff, midsection
the middle area of the human torso (usually in front)

waist, waistline
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips

loins, pubes, pubic region
the lower part of the abdomen just above the external genital organs

palm, thenar
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

thenar
the fleshy area of the palm at the base of the thumb

sole
the underside of the foot

half-moon, lunula, lunule
the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human fingernail

groin, inguen
the crease at the junction of the inner part of the thigh with the trunk together with the adjacent region and often including the external genitals

quick
any area of the body that is highly sensitive to pain (as the flesh underneath the skin or a fingernail or toenail)

association area, association cortex
cortical areas that are neither motor or sensory but are thought to be involved in higher processing of information

auditory area, auditory cortex
the cortical area that receives auditory information from the medial geniculate body

Brodmann's area
one of the cortical areas mapped out on the basis of its cytoarchitecture

language area, language zone
a large cortical area (in the left hemisphere in most people) containing all the centers associated with language

Rolando's area, excitable area, motor area, motor cortex, motor region
the cortical area that influences motor movements

sensorium
the areas of the brain that process and register incoming sensory information and make possible the conscious awareness of the world

sensorimotor area, sensorimotor region
an area of the cortex including the precentral gyrus and the postcentral gyrus and combining sensory and motor functions

visual area, visual cortex
the cortical area that receives information from the lateral geniculate body of the thalamus

Brodmann's area 17, area 17 of Brodmann, first visual area, striate area, striate cortex
the part of the occipital cortex that receives the fibers of the optic radiation from the lateral geniculate body and is the primary receptive area for vision

wasp waist
a very slender waist

type of:
body part
any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity
noun
a particular environment or walk of life

“it was a closed area of employment”

synonyms: arena, domain, field, orbit, sphere

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distaff
the sphere of work by women

front
a sphere of activity involving effort

kingdom, land, realm
a domain in which something is dominant

lap
an area of control or responsibility

political arena, political sphere
a sphere of intense political activity

preserve
a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone

province, responsibility
the proper sphere or extent of your activities

lotus land, lotusland
an idyllic realm of contentment and self-indulgence

lap of the gods
beyond human control or responsibility

ecclesiastical province
the district within the jurisdiction of an archbishop or a metropolitan or one of the territorial divisions of an ecclesiastical order

type of:
environment
the totality of surrounding conditions
noun
a subject of study

“it was his area of specialization”

“areas of interest include...”

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types:
gray area, grey area
an intermediate area; a topic that is not clearly one thing or the other

territory
an area of knowledge or interest

type of:
issue, matter, subject, topic
some situation or event that is thought about

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