2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Area \A"re*a\ ([=a]"r[-e]*[.a]; 277), n.; pl. {Areas} (-[.a]z) .
[L. area a broad piece of level ground. Cf. {Are}, n.]
1. Any plane surface, as of the floor of a room or church, or
of the ground within an inclosure; an open space in a
building.
The Alban lake . . . looks like the area of some
vast amphitheater. --Addison.
2. The inclosed space on which a building stands.
3. The sunken space or court, giving ingress and affording
light to the basement of a building.
4. An extent of surface; a tract of the earth's surface; a
region; as, vast uncultivated areas.
5. (Geom.) The superficial contents of any figure; the
surface included within any given lines; superficial
extent; as, the area of a square or a triangle.
6. (Biol.) A spot or small marked space; as, the germinative
area.
7. Extent; scope; range; as, a wide area of thought.
The largest area of human history and man's common
nature. --F. Harrison.
{Dry area}. See under {Dry}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
area
n 1: 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"; "Bible country" [syn: {country}]
2: a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere
is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's
out of my orbit" [syn: {sphere}, {domain}, {orbit}, {field},
{arena}]
3: a subject of study; "it was his area of specialization";
"areas of interest include..."
4: a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or
function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of
room for servants"
5: a part of an animal that has a special function or is
supplied by a given artery or nerve; "in the abdominal
region" [syn: {region}]
6: the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a
boundary; "the area of a rectangle"; "it was about 500
square feet in area" [syn: {expanse}, {surface area}]