from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Area \A"re*a\ ([=a]"r[-e]*[.a]; 277), n.; pl. {Areas} (-[.a]z) .
[L. area a broad piece of level ground. Cf. {Are}, n.]
1. Any plane surface, as of the floor of a room or church, or
of the ground within an inclosure; an open space in a
building.
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The Alban lake . . . looks like the area of some
vast amphitheater. --Addison.
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2. The inclosed space on which a building stands.
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3. The sunken space or court, giving ingress and affording
light to the basement of a building.
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4. An extent of surface; a tract of the earth's surface; a
region; as, vast uncultivated areas.
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5. (Geom.) The superficial contents of any figure; the
surface included within any given lines; superficial
extent; as, the area of a square or a triangle.
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6. (Biol.) A spot or small marked space; as, the germinative
area.
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7. Extent; scope; range; as, a wide area of thought.
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The largest area of human history and man's common
nature. --F. Harrison.
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{Dry area}. See under {Dry}.
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