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terrace

n. · v.
US //ˈtɛɹəs// UK //tˈɛɹɪs// ter·race
  1. 1 outdoor platform (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a flat, paved area outside a house or restaurant where you can sit and eat.

    a raised, level platform extending from a building, typically paved and used for outdoor dining or relaxation.

    Example

    We spent the warm summer evening drinking coffee on the terrace.

    Example

    The hotel's rooftop terrace offers guests an unobstructed view of the Mediterranean, making it a popular venue for evening receptions.
  2. 2 row of houses (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English

    a row of similar houses that are joined together in a line.

    a row of identical or mirror-image houses sharing side walls, forming a continuous architectural block.

    Example

    They live in a beautiful Victorian terrace near the park.

    Example

    The urban redevelopment plan focuses on preserving the historic brick terraces while modernising the interior infrastructure for energy efficiency.
    • row houses
    • townhouses
    • detached house
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  1. 3 stepped land (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    a flat area cut into a hill like a giant step, often used for growing crops.

    a level or nearly level strip of land on a slope, either naturally occurring or man-made for agricultural irrigation and erosion control.

    Example

    Farmers in the mountains use terraces to grow rice on the steep slopes.

    Example

    Ancient civilizations engineered sophisticated terraces to maximize arable land in mountainous regions where traditional farming was impossible.
  2. 4 stadium standing area (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Sport

    the wide steps in a sports stadium where people stand to watch a game.

    the tiered standing area in a sports ground, traditionally used by spectators before the transition to all-seater stadiums.

    Example

    The fans on the terraces started singing as soon as the players walked out.

    Example

    Safety regulations introduced in the 1990s led to the removal of standing terraces in most major football league stadiums.
  3. 5 to create steps (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Agriculture

    to make a slope flat by cutting steps into it.

    to form or reshape a sloping area into a series of horizontal levels or tiers.

    Example

    The gardener decided to terrace the backyard to create more space for flowers.

    Example

    The landscape architect proposed to terrace the steep embankment, creating a series of functional garden levels that prevent soil runoff during heavy rain.
Origin

Borrowed from French terrasse, from Old Occitan terrassa, from terra (“land”). Doublet of terrasse.

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