terrace

American  

[ter-uhs] / ˈtɛr əs /

noun

terraces plural

1. a raised level with a vertical or sloping front or sides faced with masonry, turf, or the like, especially one of a series of levels rising one above another.

2. the top of such a construction, used as a platform, garden, road, etc.

3. a nearly level strip of land with a more or less abrupt descent along the margin of the sea, a lake, or a river.

4. the flat roof of a house.

5. an open, often paved area connected to a house or an apartment house and serving as an outdoor living area; deck.

6. an open platform, as projecting from the outside wall of an apartment; a large balcony.

7. a row of houses on or near the top of a slope.

8. a residential street following the top of a slope.

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verb (used with or without object)

terraces, present (3rd person singular) terraced, past participle, past terracing present participle

1. to form into or furnish with a terrace or terraces.

terrace British  

/ ˈtɛrəs /

noun

1. a horizontal flat area of ground, often one of a series in a slope

2. 1. a row of houses, usually identical and having common dividing walls, or the street onto which they face

   2. ( cap when part of a street name )

      Grosvenor Terrace

3. a paved area alongside a building, serving partly as a garden

4. a balcony or patio

5. the flat roof of a house built in a Spanish or Oriental style

6. a flat area bounded by a short steep slope formed by the down-cutting of a river or by erosion

7. (usually plural)

   1. unroofed tiers around a football pitch on which the spectators stand

   2. the spectators themselves

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verb

1. (tr) to make into or provide with a terrace or terraces

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• terraceless
  adjective
• unterraced
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• terraces
  plural

Participles

• terracing
  present
• terraced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• terrace
  simple
• terraces
  simple
• have terraced
  perfect
• has terraced
  perfect
• am terracing
  progressive
• are terracing
  progressive
• is terracing
  progressive
• have been terracing
  perfect progressive
• has been terracing
  perfect progressive

Past

• terraced
  simple
• had terraced
  perfect
• was terracing
  progressive
• were terracing
  progressive
• had been terracing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will terrace
  simple
• will have terraced
  perfect
• will be terracing
  progressive
• will have been terracing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of terrace

1505–15; earlier terrasse < Middle French < Old Provençal terrassa < Vulgar Latin *terrācea, feminine of *terrāceus. See terra, -aceous

Explanation

A terrace is a paved or brick outdoor area right next to a house or apartment. You might have a nice dinner out on your terrace, enjoying the sunset. Terrace and patio are synonyms. Another meaning for terrace is "a block of row houses that are connected by shared walls and are built in a similar style." Terrace also refers to flat areas on a hillside where people farm or have built houses. That land has been terraced, meaning "made into shelves."

Example Sentences

Earlier this year, Zachary Hinckley enjoyed the $26 avocado toast at the Wynn’s Terrace Pointe Café with his son and son’s fiancé.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

"I just felt God calling me," the 20-year-old revealed in a film for BBC Scotland's A View from the Terrace earlier this year.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

As peak swimming season kicks off, the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center pool in Lake View Terrace reopened Memorial Day on weekends after being closed for the season.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

West Street is closed between Mappin Street and Westfield Terrace, and Eldon Street, Westhill Lane and part of Orange Street have also been closed.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

So, let's see, the new housing development on Maple Terrace.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Related Words

• balcony
• deck
• gallery
• patio
• platform
• porch
• promenade
• roof