1. A roughly bounded part of the space on a surface; a region: a farming area; the New York area.
2. A surface, especially an open, unoccupied piece of ground: a landing area; a playing area.
3. A distinct part or section, as of a building, set aside for a specific function: a storage area in the basement.
4. A division of experience, activity, or knowledge; a field: studies in the area of finance; a job in the health-care area.
5. An open, sunken space next to a building; an areaway.
6. (Abbr. A) The extent of a planar region or of the surface of a solid measured in square units.
7. Computer Science. A section of storage set aside for a particular purpose.

[Latin ārea, open space, possibly akin to ārēre, to be dry. See arid.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.