area
♦♦♦ area /'eəriə/ (areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
An area is a particular part of a town, a country, a region, or the world.
...the large number of community groups in the area...
60 years ago half the French population still lived in rural areas.
2 [N-COUNT] poss N
Your area is the part of a town, country, or region where you live. An organization's area is the part of a town, country, or region that it is responsible for.
Local authorities have been responsible for the running of schools in their areas...
If there is an election in your area, you should go and vote.
3 [N-COUNT] supp N
A particular area is a piece of land or part of a building that is used for a particular activity.
...a picnic area.
...the main check-in area located in Terminal 1.
4 [N-COUNT] with supp
An area is a particular place on a surface or object, for example on your body.
You will notice that your baby has two soft areas on the top of his head.
5 [N-VAR]
The area of a surface such as a piece of land is the amount of flat space or ground that it covers, measured in square units.
The islands cover a total area of 625.6 square kilometers...
6 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
You can use area to refer to a particular subject or topic, or to a particular part of a larger, more general situation or activity.
...the politically sensitive area of old age pensions.
7 [N-COUNT] usu sing, the N
On a football pitch, the area is the same as the penalty area. (INFORMAL)
= box
8
see also catchment area, disaster area, penalty area, penalty areaarea code (area codes)
[N-COUNT]
The area code for a particular city or region is the series of numbers that you have to dial before someone's personal number if you are making a telephone call to that place from a different area. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use dialling code)catch|ment area (catchment areas)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
The catchment area of a school, hospital, or other service is the area that it serves. (BRIT)
...the catchment areas of the district general hospitals.
2 [N-COUNT]
In geography, the catchment area of a river is the area of land from which water flows into the river. (TECHNICAL)con|ser|va|tion area (conservation areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
In Britain, a conservation area is an area where birds and animals are protected.
...wildlife conservation areas.
2 [N-COUNT]
In Britain, a conservation area is an area where old buildings are protected and new building is controlled.dis|as|ter area (disaster areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
A disaster area is a part of a country or the world which has been very seriously affected by a disaster such as an earthquake or a flood.
The region has been declared a disaster area.
2 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If you describe a place, person, or situation as a disaster area, you mean that they are in a state of great disorder or failure. (INFORMAL)
He's a nice old rascal but a disaster area as a politician.grey area (grey areas)
in AM, use gray area
[N-COUNT]
If you refer to something as a grey area, you mean that it is unclear, for example because nobody is sure how to deal with it or who is responsible for it, or it falls between two separate categories of things.
At the moment, the law on compensation is very much a grey area.
...that gray area between blue-collar laborers and white-collar professionals.lo|cal area net|work (local area networks)
[N-COUNT]
A local area network is a group of personal computers and associated equipment that are linked by cable, for example in an office building, and that share a communications line. The abbreviation LAN is also used. (COMPUTING)
Users can easily move files between PCs connected by local area networks or the internet.no-go area (no-go areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
If you refer to a place as a no-go area, you mean that it has a reputation for violence and crime which makes people frightened to go there. (mainly BRIT)
...a subway system whose reputation for violence and lawlessness makes it a no-go area for many natives of the city.
2 [N-COUNT]
A no-go area is a place which is controlled by a group of people who use force to prevent other people from entering it. (mainly BRIT)
The area of the President's residence is a no-go area after six p.m...pen|al|ty area (penalty areas)
[N-COUNT]
In football, the penalty area is the rectangular area in front of the goal. Inside this area the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball, and if the defending team breaks a rule here, the opposing team gets a penalty. (mainly BRIT)
= penalty boxrest area (rest areas)
[N-COUNT]
A rest area is a place beside a motorway or freeway where you can buy petrol and other things, or have a meal. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use services)safe area (safe areas)
[N-COUNT]
If part of a country that is involved in a war is declared to be a safe area, neutral forces will try to keep peace there so that it is safe for people.
The UN declared it a safe area.ser|vice area (service areas)
[N-COUNT]
A service area is a place beside a motorway where you can buy petrol and other things, or have a meal. (BRIT; in AM, use rest area)
= service station
1 [N-COUNT]
An area is a particular part of a town, a country, a region, or the world.
...the large number of community groups in the area...
60 years ago half the French population still lived in rural areas.
2 [N-COUNT] poss N
Your area is the part of a town, country, or region where you live. An organization's area is the part of a town, country, or region that it is responsible for.
Local authorities have been responsible for the running of schools in their areas...
If there is an election in your area, you should go and vote.
3 [N-COUNT] supp N
A particular area is a piece of land or part of a building that is used for a particular activity.
...a picnic area.
...the main check-in area located in Terminal 1.
4 [N-COUNT] with supp
An area is a particular place on a surface or object, for example on your body.
You will notice that your baby has two soft areas on the top of his head.
5 [N-VAR]
The area of a surface such as a piece of land is the amount of flat space or ground that it covers, measured in square units.
The islands cover a total area of 625.6 square kilometers...
6 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
You can use area to refer to a particular subject or topic, or to a particular part of a larger, more general situation or activity.
...the politically sensitive area of old age pensions.
7 [N-COUNT] usu sing, the N
On a football pitch, the area is the same as the penalty area. (INFORMAL)
= box
8
see also catchment area, disaster area, penalty area, penalty areaarea code (area codes)
[N-COUNT]
The area code for a particular city or region is the series of numbers that you have to dial before someone's personal number if you are making a telephone call to that place from a different area. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use dialling code)catch|ment area (catchment areas)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
The catchment area of a school, hospital, or other service is the area that it serves. (BRIT)
...the catchment areas of the district general hospitals.
2 [N-COUNT]
In geography, the catchment area of a river is the area of land from which water flows into the river. (TECHNICAL)con|ser|va|tion area (conservation areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
In Britain, a conservation area is an area where birds and animals are protected.
...wildlife conservation areas.
2 [N-COUNT]
In Britain, a conservation area is an area where old buildings are protected and new building is controlled.dis|as|ter area (disaster areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
A disaster area is a part of a country or the world which has been very seriously affected by a disaster such as an earthquake or a flood.
The region has been declared a disaster area.
2 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If you describe a place, person, or situation as a disaster area, you mean that they are in a state of great disorder or failure. (INFORMAL)
He's a nice old rascal but a disaster area as a politician.grey area (grey areas)
in AM, use gray area
[N-COUNT]
If you refer to something as a grey area, you mean that it is unclear, for example because nobody is sure how to deal with it or who is responsible for it, or it falls between two separate categories of things.
At the moment, the law on compensation is very much a grey area.
...that gray area between blue-collar laborers and white-collar professionals.lo|cal area net|work (local area networks)
[N-COUNT]
A local area network is a group of personal computers and associated equipment that are linked by cable, for example in an office building, and that share a communications line. The abbreviation LAN is also used. (COMPUTING)
Users can easily move files between PCs connected by local area networks or the internet.no-go area (no-go areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
If you refer to a place as a no-go area, you mean that it has a reputation for violence and crime which makes people frightened to go there. (mainly BRIT)
...a subway system whose reputation for violence and lawlessness makes it a no-go area for many natives of the city.
2 [N-COUNT]
A no-go area is a place which is controlled by a group of people who use force to prevent other people from entering it. (mainly BRIT)
The area of the President's residence is a no-go area after six p.m...pen|al|ty area (penalty areas)
[N-COUNT]
In football, the penalty area is the rectangular area in front of the goal. Inside this area the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball, and if the defending team breaks a rule here, the opposing team gets a penalty. (mainly BRIT)
= penalty boxrest area (rest areas)
[N-COUNT]
A rest area is a place beside a motorway or freeway where you can buy petrol and other things, or have a meal. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use services)safe area (safe areas)
[N-COUNT]
If part of a country that is involved in a war is declared to be a safe area, neutral forces will try to keep peace there so that it is safe for people.
The UN declared it a safe area.ser|vice area (service areas)
[N-COUNT]
A service area is a place beside a motorway where you can buy petrol and other things, or have a meal. (BRIT; in AM, use rest area)
= service station