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¹terrace

noun ter·race \ˈter-əs, ˈte-rəs\

: a flat area created on the side of a hill and used especially for growing crops

: a flat area next to a building where people can sit and relax

: a row of houses that are joined together : a group of row houses

Full Definition of TERRACE

a : a colonnaded porch or promenade

b : a flat roof or open platform

c : a relatively level paved or planted area adjoining a building

a : a raised embankment with the top leveled

b : one of usually a series of horizontal ridges made in a hillside to increase cultivatable land, conserve moisture, or minimize erosion

: a level ordinarily narrow plain usually with steep front bordering a river, lake, or sea; also : a similar undersea feature

a : a row of houses or apartments on raised ground or a sloping site

b : a group of row houses

c : a strip of park in the middle of a street often planted with trees or shrubs

d : street

: a section of a British soccer stadium set aside for standing spectators

See terrace defined for English-language learners

See terrace defined for kids

Origin of TERRACE

Middle French, platform, terrace, from Old French, from Old Occitan terrassa, from terra earth, from Latin, earth, land; akin to Latin torrēre to parch — more at thirst

First Known Use: 1515

Related to TERRACE

Synonyms: balcony, deck, sundeck

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

Rhymes with TERRACE

derris, ferrous, parous, Perris

²terrace

transitive verb

ter·racedter·rac·ing

Definition of TERRACE

: to provide (as a building or hillside) with a terrace

: to make into a terrace

First Known Use of TERRACE

1650

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

TERRACE Defined for Kids

¹terrace

noun ter·race \ˈter-əs\

Definition of TERRACE for Kids

: a level area next to a building

: a raised piece of land with the top leveled <Rice is planted in terraces on sides of the hill.>

: a row of houses on raised ground or a slope

Word Root of TERRACE

The Latin word terra, meaning “earth,” “land,” or “ground,” gives us the root terr. Words from the Latin terra have something to do with the earth or land. A territory is an area of land ruled by a particular government. A terrace is a piece of land with a flat top. Anything terrestrial lives on land and not in water.