areanoun/ˈɛəɹi.ə/

• 1

  mathematicssciencesA 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.
• 2

  A particular geographic region.

  • Eggimann used a computer algorithm to analyze data from the open-source geographic database OpenStreetMap and automatically detect areas with the superblock potential. He applied this analysis to 5 km x 5 km areas of the city center in 18 different cities around the world.
• 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.
• 5

  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.
  • This was so favourably received by the milkman and beadle that he would immediately have been pushed into the area if I had not held his pinafore while Richard and Mr. Guppy ran down through the kitchen to catch him when he should be released.
• 6

  ball-gamesgameshobbiesPenalty 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.
• 7

  slangGenitals.

  • 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!