ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hectare

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhɛkˌtɑɹ// UK //hˈɛkteə// hectare

n. a unit of measurement for an area of land. One hectare is equal to 10,000 square metres, which is about the size of two football fields.

n. a metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square metres or approximately 2.47 acres.


SIMPLE

The farmer owns ten hectares of land.

CONTEXTUAL

The local government recently protected fifty hectares of forest from being cleared for new housing developments.

COMPLEX

While the estate was once thousands of hectares in size, successive generations have sold off parcels of land until only the central manor and its immediate gardens remain.

Origin

Borrowed from French hectare, formed from Ancient Greek ἑκατόν (hekatón, “hundred”) + are, equivalent to hect- + are.

Usage

Commonly used in agriculture, forestry, and land planning; often abbreviated as 'ha' in technical documents.

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