| 释义 |
ar·ea
\ˈarēə, ˈer-, ˈaar-, ˈār-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Latin, piece of level ground, threshing floor, from arēre to be dry; from its use as a place to dry grain, or from the vegetation's having been burned off — more at ardor
1.
a. : a level or relatively level piece of unoccupied or unused ground : a clear or open space of land
< plants his crops on any area he can find — P.E.James >
b. : a definitely bounded piece of ground set aside for a specific use or purpose
< the state has provided several picnic areas along the new highway >
< a free parking area in the center of town >
2. : the superficial contents of any figure : superficial extent : the surface included within any set of lines; specifically : the number of squares, each with a side one unit long, that exactly cover a surface (as in certain rectangles) when it can be covered in such a manner or a number that is equally acceptable as a measure of the surface (as in spheres or circles) when it cannot be covered in this manner
3.
a. : the enclosed space or site on which a building stands
b. : areaway
< went down the steps into the area of a house — James Joyce >
4.
a. : a clear or open space within a building
< the communion table should be removed from the middle of the area — David Hume †1776 >
b. : a definitely bounded part or section of a building set aside for a specific use or purpose
< the house has a large kitchen area >
5. : any particular extent of space or surface: as
a. : a part of the surface of the human body
< if the ethyl fluid should come in contact with the skin, wash the area immediately — H.G.Armstrong >
b. : an expanse or tract of the earth's surface
< a large area outside the marshes is submerged — Wilfred Thesiger >
c. : a section, district, or zone of a town or city
< the shopping area >
< the residential area >
d. : a region or territory including and surrounding a city, consisting of a large part of a state or country or several states or countries, or embracing an entire continent or parts of more than one continent
< the Chicago area >
< the West Virginia mining area >
< the Caribbean area >
< Europe … was considered the chief danger area — A.O.Wolfers >
e. : the territory assigned to a military unit
< the battalion's new area was on the fringe of the town — Bill Davidson >
f. : culture area
6.
a. : the range or extent covered by or included in some thing or concept : the sphere or scope of operation or action : field
< the whole area of foreign policy >
< the novel has steadily widened the areas of experience it will deal with — Bernard De Voto >
b. : a system or sphere of intellectual activity or study; specifically : a major section of a curriculum
< courses in the area of the humanities >
7. : a part of the cerebral cortex regarded as having a particular function — see association area, motor area, sensory area
Synonyms: see size |