area

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin area.

noun

1. (mathematics) A measure of the extent of a surface; it is measured in square units.
   It is about 4.5 million square kilometers in area and holds the world’s third largest collection of ice after Antarctica and Greenland. File:It is about 4.5 million square kilometers in area.ogg 2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns
2. A particular geographic region.
3. Any particular extent of surface, especially an empty or unused extent.
   The photo is a little dark in that area.
4. The extent, scope, or range of an object or concept.
   The plans are a bit vague in that area.
   Today, a new area of research that similarly aims to mimic a complex biological phenomenon—life itself—is taking off. Synthetic biology, a seductive experimental subfield in the life sciences, seems tantalizingly to promise custom-designed life created in the laboratory. 2013 September-October, Rob Dorit, “Making Life from Scratch”, in American Scientist
5. (Britain) An open space, below ground level, giving access to the basement of a house, and typically separated from the pavement by railings.
   A boy seized it, whom she bribed with a shilling to relinquish his prize, which she was taking home, when it escaped from her hand, and fell down the area of a house. 1790, Helen Maria Williams, Julia, Routledge, published 2016, page 95
   A minute later we were both in the area. Hardly had we reached the dark shadows before the step of the policeman was heard in the fog above. As its soft rhythm died away, Holmes set to work upon the lower door. I saw him stoop and strain until with a sharp crash it flew open. We sprang through into the dark passage, closing the area door behind us. 1908, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
6. (soccer) Penalty box; penalty area.
   Bendtner's goal-bound shot was well saved by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi but fell to Arsahvin on the edge of the area and the Russian swivelled, shaped his body and angled a sumptuous volley into the corner. December 29, 2010, Mark Vesty, “Wigan 2-2 Arsenal”, in BBC
7. (slang) Genitals.
   But what do I do when the third one runs at me with his bike helmet on? I got no more hands to protect my area! 2003-10-02, “The One Where Ross Is Fine”, in Friends, season 10, episode 2, spoken by Frank Buffay Jr. (Giovanni Ribisi), via NBC