plaza
n. countablen. an open public square or marketplace in a city or town. It is usually a flat area where people can walk, sit, and meet others.
n. an open public square, marketplace, or similar public space in a city or town. Often used to describe pedestrian areas surrounded by buildings or shops.
The town plaza is full of people on Saturday mornings.
The local government decided to install new benches and a fountain in the central plaza to encourage tourism.
Architects designed the new office complex around a central plaza, creating a communal space that bridges the gap between private corporate interests and public urban life.
Borrowed from Spanish plaza (“town-square or central place of gathering”), from Latin platea, from Ancient Greek πλατεῖα (plateîa), clipping of πλατεῖα ὁδός (plateîa hodós, “broad way”). Doublet of piatza, piazza, and place.
Commonly used in North American English to refer to a shopping center or a strip mall, whereas in British English it more strictly refers to an open square.