ENGLISH
REFERENCE

playground

n.
US //ˈpɫeɪˌɡɹaʊn// UK //plˈeɪɡɹaʊnd// play·ground
  1. 1 children's play area (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    an outdoor area where children can play, often with equipment like swings and slides.

    an outdoor area designated for children's recreation, typically equipped with structures such as slides, swings, and climbing frames.

    Example

    The children ran straight to the playground to play on the swings after school.

    Example

    The local council invested in a modern playground featuring rubberised safety flooring and inclusive equipment for children of all abilities.
  2. 2 place for free activity (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a place or situation where people can do what they want and have fun.

    a metaphorical space or region where a particular group has the freedom to act or enjoy themselves without restriction.

    Example

    The tropical island has become a playground for wealthy tourists.

    Example

    During the tech boom, the city served as a playground for ambitious entrepreneurs looking to disrupt traditional industries.

    Teacher's tip

    Often used with a possessive, such as 'a playground for the rich'.
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  1. 3 coding environment (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    a safe digital space where you can write and test code without breaking anything.

    a development environment or sandbox that allows programmers to execute code and test API calls in isolation.

    Example

    I used the online playground to practice my JavaScript before adding it to my website.

    Example

    The platform provides a dedicated playground where developers can experiment with new API endpoints before deploying their applications to production.

    Usage

    Often used in the context of web development or learning a new programming language.
Origin

From play + ground. Compare Middle English playstede (“playground”) from Old English pleġstede.

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