AREA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does area mean? 

• AREA (noun)
  The noun AREA has 6 senses:

1. a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)

2. a subject of study

3. a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve

4. a particular environment or walk of life

5. a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function

6. the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary

  Familiarity information: AREA used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AREA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

area; country

Context example:

Bible country

Hypernyms ("area" is a kind of...):

region (a large indefinite location on the surface of the Earth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "area"):

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)

trouble spot (a place where trouble exists or occurs regularly)

winner's circle (a small area at a racecourse where awards are given to the owners of winning horses)

Instance hyponyms:

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

Derivation:

areal (of or relating to or involving an area)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A subject of study

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

areas of interest include...

Hypernyms ("area" is a kind of...):

issue; matter; subject; topic (some situation or event that is thought about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "area"):

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

area; region

Context example:

in the abdominal region

Hypernyms ("area" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "area"):

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))

Sense 4

Meaning:

A particular environment or walk of life

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

area; arena; domain; field; orbit; sphere

Context example:

he's out of my orbit

Hypernyms ("area" is a kind of...):

environment (the totality of surrounding conditions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "area"):

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)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants

Hypernyms ("area" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "area"):

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)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

area; expanse; surface area

Context example:

it was about 500 square feet in area

Hypernyms ("area" is a kind of...):

extent (the distance or area or volume over which something extends)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "area"):

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)

Derivation:

areal (of or relating to or involving an area)

 Context examples 

Necrosis of the myocardium, as a result of interruption of the blood supply to the area.

(Acute Myocardial Infarction, NCI Thesaurus)

It is associated with swelling and pain in the affected area.

(Acute Synovitis, NCI Thesaurus)

It usually forms on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, scalp, back of the hands, or chest.

(Actinic (Solar) Keratosis, NCI Dictionary)

The affected areas are cold and sweaty.

(Acrocyanosis, NCI Thesaurus)

Two cup shaped areas, one each on the lateral side of the lower pelvis that house the head of the femur to form the ball and socket joint of the hip.

(Acetabulum, NCI Thesaurus)

A unit of area equal to 4046.87261 square meters.

(Acre USA Survey, NCI Thesaurus)

A malignant neoplasm arising from glandular cells that includes focal or extensive areas of squamous metaplasia.

(Adenocarcinoma with Squamous Metaplasia, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Well circumscribed areas consisting of cuboidal to columnar cells lining alveoli.

(Adenoma of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

There may also be swelling and soreness around the area that the surgeon cut.

(After Surgery, Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research)

Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) Facial and Oral Movements, Lips and perioral area, e.g., puckering, pouting, smacking.

(AIMS - Lips and Perioral Area, NCI Thesaurus)