space
♦♦ space /sp'eɪs/ (spaces spacing spaced)
1 [N-VAR]
You use space to refer to an area that is empty or available. The area can be any size. For example, you can refer to a large area outside as a large open space or to a small area between two objects as a small space.
Under the plan, bits of open space-fields, golf-course borders and small parks-will be preserved.
...cutting down yet more trees to make space for houses...
I had plenty of space to write and sew...
The space underneath could be used as a storage area...
List in the spaces below the specific changes you have made.
2 [N-VAR] usu supp N
A particular kind of space is the area that is available for a particular activity or for putting a particular kind of thing in.
...the high cost of office space...
Finding a parking space in the summer months is still a virtual impossibility...
3 [N-UNCOUNT] oft n of N
If a place gives a feeling of space, it gives an impression of being large and open.
Large paintings can enhance the feeling of space in small rooms...
4 [N-UNCOUNT]
If you give someone space to think about something or to develop as a person, you allow them the time and freedom to do this.
You need space to think everything over...
= room
5 [N-UNCOUNT]
The amount of space for a topic to be discussed in a document is the number of pages available to discuss the topic.
We can't promise to publish a reply as space is limited.
6 [N-SING] N of n
A space of time is a period of time.
They've come a long way in a short space of time...
7 [N-UNCOUNT]
Space is the area beyond the Earth's atmosphere, where the stars and planets are.
The six astronauts on board will spend ten days in space.
...launching satellites into space.
...outer space.
8 [N-UNCOUNT]
Space is the whole area within which everything exists.
The physical universe is finite in space and time.
9 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V n
If you space a series of things, you arrange them so that they are not all together but have gaps or intervals of time between them.
Women once again are having fewer children and spacing them further apart...
His voice was angry and he spaced the words for emphasis.
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
Space out means the same as space.
He talks quite slowly and spaces his words out...
I was spacing out the seedlings into divided trays...
● spacing [N-UNCOUNT]
Generous spacing gives healthier trees and better crops.
10
see also spacing, airspace, outer space, outer space, personal space
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you are staring into space, you are looking straight in front of you, without actually looking at anything in particular, for example because you are thinking or because you are feeling shocked.
He just sat in the dressing-room staring into space...breath|ing space (breathing spaces)
[N-VAR]
A breathing space is a short period of time between two activities in which you can recover from the first activity and prepare for the second one.
Firms need a breathing space if they are to recover...
= respiteout|er space
[N-UNCOUNT]
Outer space is the area outside the earth's atmosphere where the other planets and stars are situated.
In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into outer space.per|son|al space
1 [N-UNCOUNT] oft poss N
If someone invades your personal space, they stand or lean too close to you, so that you feel uncomfortable.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft poss N
If you need your personal space, you need time on your own, with the freedom to do something that you want to do or to think about something.
Self-confidence means being relaxed enough to allow your lover their personal space.space age
also space-age
1 [N-SING] the N
The space age is the present period in the history of the world, when travel in space has become possible.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use space-age to describe something that is very modern and makes you think of the technology of the space age.
...a space-age tower of steel and glass.
= futuristicspace flight (space flights)
[N-VAR]
A space flight is a trip into space.
She made her first and only space flight last September...space probe (space probes)
[N-COUNT]
A space probe is a spacecraft with no people in it which is sent into space in order to study the planets and send information about them back to earth.space shut|tle (space shuttles)
[N-COUNT]
A space shuttle or a shuttle is a spacecraft that is designed to travel into space and back to earth several times.space sta|tion (space stations)
[N-COUNT]
A space station is a place built for astronauts to live and work in, which is sent into space and then keeps going around the earth.space suit (space suits)
also spacesuit
[N-COUNT]
A space suit is a special protective suit that is worn by astronauts in space.space walk (space walks)
[N-COUNT]
When an astronaut goes on a space walk, he or she leaves the spacecraft and works outside it while floating in space.
1 [N-VAR]
You use space to refer to an area that is empty or available. The area can be any size. For example, you can refer to a large area outside as a large open space or to a small area between two objects as a small space.
Under the plan, bits of open space-fields, golf-course borders and small parks-will be preserved.
...cutting down yet more trees to make space for houses...
I had plenty of space to write and sew...
The space underneath could be used as a storage area...
List in the spaces below the specific changes you have made.
2 [N-VAR] usu supp N
A particular kind of space is the area that is available for a particular activity or for putting a particular kind of thing in.
...the high cost of office space...
Finding a parking space in the summer months is still a virtual impossibility...
3 [N-UNCOUNT] oft n of N
If a place gives a feeling of space, it gives an impression of being large and open.
Large paintings can enhance the feeling of space in small rooms...
4 [N-UNCOUNT]
If you give someone space to think about something or to develop as a person, you allow them the time and freedom to do this.
You need space to think everything over...
= room
5 [N-UNCOUNT]
The amount of space for a topic to be discussed in a document is the number of pages available to discuss the topic.
We can't promise to publish a reply as space is limited.
6 [N-SING] N of n
A space of time is a period of time.
They've come a long way in a short space of time...
7 [N-UNCOUNT]
Space is the area beyond the Earth's atmosphere, where the stars and planets are.
The six astronauts on board will spend ten days in space.
...launching satellites into space.
...outer space.
8 [N-UNCOUNT]
Space is the whole area within which everything exists.
The physical universe is finite in space and time.
9 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V n
If you space a series of things, you arrange them so that they are not all together but have gaps or intervals of time between them.
Women once again are having fewer children and spacing them further apart...
His voice was angry and he spaced the words for emphasis.
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
Space out means the same as space.
He talks quite slowly and spaces his words out...
I was spacing out the seedlings into divided trays...
● spacing [N-UNCOUNT]
Generous spacing gives healthier trees and better crops.
10
see also spacing, airspace, outer space, outer space, personal space
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you are staring into space, you are looking straight in front of you, without actually looking at anything in particular, for example because you are thinking or because you are feeling shocked.
He just sat in the dressing-room staring into space...breath|ing space (breathing spaces)
[N-VAR]
A breathing space is a short period of time between two activities in which you can recover from the first activity and prepare for the second one.
Firms need a breathing space if they are to recover...
= respiteout|er space
[N-UNCOUNT]
Outer space is the area outside the earth's atmosphere where the other planets and stars are situated.
In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into outer space.per|son|al space
1 [N-UNCOUNT] oft poss N
If someone invades your personal space, they stand or lean too close to you, so that you feel uncomfortable.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft poss N
If you need your personal space, you need time on your own, with the freedom to do something that you want to do or to think about something.
Self-confidence means being relaxed enough to allow your lover their personal space.space age
also space-age
1 [N-SING] the N
The space age is the present period in the history of the world, when travel in space has become possible.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use space-age to describe something that is very modern and makes you think of the technology of the space age.
...a space-age tower of steel and glass.
= futuristicspace flight (space flights)
[N-VAR]
A space flight is a trip into space.
She made her first and only space flight last September...space probe (space probes)
[N-COUNT]
A space probe is a spacecraft with no people in it which is sent into space in order to study the planets and send information about them back to earth.space shut|tle (space shuttles)
[N-COUNT]
A space shuttle or a shuttle is a spacecraft that is designed to travel into space and back to earth several times.space sta|tion (space stations)
[N-COUNT]
A space station is a place built for astronauts to live and work in, which is sent into space and then keeps going around the earth.space suit (space suits)
also spacesuit
[N-COUNT]
A space suit is a special protective suit that is worn by astronauts in space.space walk (space walks)
[N-COUNT]
When an astronaut goes on a space walk, he or she leaves the spacecraft and works outside it while floating in space.