plaza English · revision 15028

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1673|origins=grc πλατεῖα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈplɑː.zə/, US /ˈplɑː.zə/, /ˈplæz.ə/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|es|plaza|t=square, place]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-vul|*plattea]],^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) from [[la|platea|t=courtyard, broad street]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|πλατεῖα|tr=plateîa]].^(Collins 2023) It is a doublet of [[place]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A public square or marketplace, in a Spanish-speaking country: 1673 in Merriam-Webster, 1683 in the OED;^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989) 1830 in Etymonline and 1836 in Barnhart, in American English.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was at first used of Spanish and Spanish-American towns.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In North America it came to mean a modern complex of shops and buildings with parking,^(Collins 2023)^(AHD) and a widened area of a highway at tollbooths or for services.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1673 – plaza.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1683 – a Spanish marketplace.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1836 – plaza (American English).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A public square or open space in a town or city, especially in Spain or a Spanish-speaking country.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly US, Canada)'' A shopping centre, or a modern complex of shops, offices and parking.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A widened part of a highway at tollbooths, or a service area beside it.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[place]]

+ * [[piazza]]

+ * [[platitude]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}