area English · revision 2009

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1538|origins=la ārea}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈeə.ri.ə/, US /ˈer.i.ə/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|ārea|t=level ground, open space; threshing floor]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(RHWU) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is often connected with [[m|la|ārēre|t=to be dry]], as a bare space dried or cleared by burning, or a place for drying grain,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) but Barnhart says this derivation is not generally accepted.^(Barnhart 1988) The metric unit [[are]] comes from the same Latin word through French.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A vacant piece of ground, or one set aside for a particular purpose: 1538.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Latin the word was used of building sites, playgrounds and threshing floors.^(Etymonline) In English the general sense “any extent of surface within set limits” followed in the 1560s,^(Etymonline) an enclosed court in the 17th century,^(Hoad 1986) a region with vague boundaries in 1671,^(HTOED) and a field of study or activity later still.^(AHD) The North American telephone ''area code'' is recorded from 1959.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1538 – a vacant piece of ground.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1560s – any extent of surface.^(Etymonline)

+ * 17th century – an enclosed court.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1671 – a region.^(HTOED)

+ * 1959 – ''area code''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A part of a surface or of the earth; a [[region]].^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # An open, unoccupied piece of ground.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A part of a building or place set aside for a purpose: ''a dining area''.^(AHD)

+ # A field of knowledge or activity.^(AHD)

+ # A sunken space beside a building, giving access to a basement.^(AHD)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The extent of a flat surface or figure.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[areal]]

+ * [[areally]]

+ * [[areaway]]

+ * [[equal-area]]

+ * [[subarea]]

+ * [[area code]]

+ * [[area rug]]

+ * [[Broca's area]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[arid]]

+ * [[ardent]]

+ * [[are]]

+ * [[areola]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD notes that ''area'' and ''region'' are the most general words for an extent of space; a ''zone'' is marked off by some feature, a ''district'' by administration, and a ''locality'' is a place in relation to its surroundings.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}