Word
courtyard
Phoneticscourt·yard, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɔɹtˌjɑɹd/
UK/kˈɔːtjɑːd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. an open area that is surrounded by walls or buildings. It is like a private outdoor room that has no roof.
n. an unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by walls or buildings. Often serves as a central focal point in residential or institutional architecture.
Examples
“The hotel guests enjoy drinking coffee in the sunny courtyard.”
“The office building features a central courtyard where employees can eat lunch away from the street noise.”
“Traditional Mediterranean villas are often designed around a central courtyard to facilitate natural ventilation and provide a secluded outdoor space for the family.”
Examples
simple
“The hotel guests enjoy drinking coffee in the sunny courtyard.”
contextual
“The office building features a central courtyard where employees can eat lunch away from the street noise.”
complex
“Traditional Mediterranean villas are often designed around a central courtyard to facilitate natural ventilation and provide a secluded outdoor space for the family.”
Usage
Commonly paired with 'central', 'inner', or 'private'.
Etymology
From court + yard.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/courtyard