area
area (ârʹē-ə) noun
Abbr. A, A., a.
1. A roughly bounded part of the space on a surface; a region: a farming area; the New York area.
2. A surface, especially an open, unoccupied piece of ground: a landing area; a playing area.
3. A distinct part or section, as of a building, set aside for a specific function: a storage area in the basement.
4. A division of experience, activity, or knowledge; a field: studies in the area of finance; a job in the health-care area.
5. An open, sunken space next to a building; an areaway.
6. Abbr. A The extent of a planar region or of the surface of a solid measured in square units.
7. Computer Science. A section of storage set aside for a particular purpose.
[Latin ārea, open space; possibly akin to ārēre, to be dry. See arid.]
Synonyms: area, region, belt, zone, district, locality. These nouns all denote extents of space, especially on a surface, that can be differentiated from others by particular qualities or characteristics. Area and region are the most inclusive: a dialect spoken over a large area; a blighted urban area; a recreation area; tropical regions of South America; polar regions; pain in the abdominal region. A belt is a tract, frequently but not always longer than it is wide, that is distinguished from others in a single stated respect: the Corn Belt; a snow belt. A zone may be an area that encircles, as on a map (the Torrid Zone); it may also be an area with strictly defined, often arbitrarily set boundaries (a residential zone; a demilitarized zone; a nuclear-free zone). If the area is a subdivision for administrative purposes, it is called a district: a congressional district. District can also refer to a less specific area with respect to such features as its use: the financial district. A locality is an area with vague or undefined limits: The turnout of voters was low in many localities.