park

[ pahrk ]

/ pɑrk /

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noun

an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public, having facilities for rest and recreation, often owned, set apart, and managed by a city, state, or nation.

an enclosed area or a stadium used for sports: a baseball park.

a considerable extent of land forming the grounds of a country house.

British. a tract of land reserved for wild animals; game preserve.

Western U.S. a broad valley in a mountainous region.

a space where vehicles, especially automobiles, may be assembled or stationed.

amusement park.

theme park.

any area set aside for public recreation.

Military.

the space occupied by the assembled guns, tanks, or vehicles of a military unit.
the assemblage so formed.
(formerly) the ammunition trains and reserve artillery of an army.

Automotive. a setting in an automatic transmission in which the transmission is in neutral and the brake is engaged.

verb (used with object)

to place or leave (a vehicle) in a certain place for a period of time.

Informal. to put, leave, or settle: Park your coat on the chair. Park yourself over there for a moment.

to assemble (equipment or supplies) in a military park.

to enclose in or as in a park.

Informal. to invest (funds) in a stock, bond, etc., considered to be a safe investment with little chance of depreciation, as during a recession or an unstable economic period, or until one finds a more profitable investment.

Aerospace. to place (a satellite) in orbit.

verb (used without object)

to park a car, bicycle, etc.

Informal. to engage in kissing and caressing in a parked car.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of park

1225–75; Middle English (noun) <Old French parc enclosure <Late Latin *parricus<West Germanic *parruk (see paddock¹)

OTHER WORDS FROM park

parker, nounparklike, adjectiveo·ver·park, verbre·park, verb

su·per·park, nounun·parked, adjectivewell-parked, adjective

Other definitions for park (2 of 2)

Park

[ pahrk ]

/ pɑrk /

noun

Mun·go

[muhng-goh], /ˈmʌŋ goʊ/, 1771–1806?, Scottish explorer in Africa.

Robert E., 1864–1944, U.S. sociologist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use park in a sentence

Insects are everywhere—in backyards, balconies and the park down the street.
Insects can be the ultimate teaching tool for kids|By Kawahara, Ennes & Markee/The Conversation|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
If you’re coming in a Sprinter van, park in the Meadow Campground.
10 Ski Areas Where You Can Camp in the Parking Lot|Megan Michelson|November 20, 2020|Outside Online
This gorgeous park features waterfront gardens and a pavilion.
Fort Lauderdale: Florida’s LGBTQ Capital|LGBTQ-Editor|November 17, 2020|No Straight News
The technology allows park staff to see where the poachers are and what weapons they’re carrying and decide how to respond safely and strategically.
This blind rhino’s infrared security system could help stop poachers|Rachael Zisk|November 12, 2020|Popular-Science

So decades later, Park isn’t waiting around for a second lucky event.
Giant lasers help re-create supernovas’ explosive, mysterious physics|Emily Conover|November 12, 2020|Science News
I told them it was back where I parked my car, so they offered me a ride.
The 7-Year-Old Plane Crash Survivor’s Brutal Journey Through the Woods|James Higdon|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yet another video catches the sounds of the gunshots and shows Brinsley standing by the parked radio car.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the mid-afternoon, Ramos and Liu were parked on Tomkins Avenue on a meal break.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brinsley came from behind a police cruiser parked on a busy street in the shadow of the Tompkins Public Houses.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish|M.L. Nestel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Peer-to-peer car rental RelayRides offers vehicles conveniently parked in airport lots.
One of a Kind Gifts Are Only a Neighbor Away|Lawrence Ferber|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With that in mind, he parked Jeff Weedham's car and stepped out into the rain, his black cape wrapped around him.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Carlson drove down into the lower east side of town, parked his car in a narrow street, and got out.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Lamb calmly turned and opened the rear door of a parked sedan whose driver was at the wheel.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Down the block, a taxi that had been parked with meter ticking across from Engel's apartment-hotel drew away slowly.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Then headed for the car parked down beyond the "No Parking" zone directly in front of the bank.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

British Dictionary definitions for park (1 of 2)

park

/ (pɑːk) /

noun

a large area of land preserved in a natural state for recreational use by the publicSee also national park

a piece of open land in a town with public amenities

NZ an area, esp of mountain country, reserved for recreational purposes

a large area of land forming a private estate

English law an enclosed tract of land where wild beasts are protected, acquired by a subject by royal grant or prescriptionCompare forest (def. 5)

an area designed and landscaped to accommodate a group of related enterprises, businesses, research establishments, etcscience park

US and Canadian See amusement park

US, Canadian and NZ See car park

US and Canadian a playing field or sports stadium

the park British informal a soccer pitch

a gear selector position on the automatic transmission of a motor vehicle that acts as a parking brake

the area in which the equipment and supplies of a military formation are assembled

a high valley surrounded by mountains in the western US

verb

to stop and leave (a vehicle) temporarily

to manoeuvre (a motor vehicle) into a space for it to be lefttry to park without hitting the kerb

stock exchange to register (securities) in the name of another or of nominees in order to conceal their real ownership

(tr) informal to leave or put somewherepark yourself in front of the fire

(intr) military to arrange equipment in a park

(tr) to enclose in or as a park

Derived forms of park

parklike, adjective

Word Origin for park

C13: from Old French parc, from Medieval Latin parricus enclosure, from Germanic; compare Old High German pfarrih pen, Old English pearruc paddock 1

British Dictionary definitions for park (2 of 2)

Park

/ (pɑːk) /

noun

Mungo (ˈmʌŋɡəʊ). 1771–1806, Scottish explorer. He led two expeditions (1795–97; 1805–06) to trace the course of the Niger in Africa. He was drowned during the second expedition

Nick, full name Nicholas Wulstan Park. born 1958, British animator and film director; his films include A Grand Day Out (1992), which introduced the characters Wallace and Gromit, and the feature-length Chicken Run (2000)

Chung Hee. (ˈtʃʊŋ ˈhiː). 1917–79, South Korean politician; president of the Republic of Korea (1963–79); assassinated

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

park

Origin of park

OTHER WORDS FROM park

Other definitions for park (2 of 2)

Words related to park

How to use park in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for park (1 of 2)

Derived forms of park

Word Origin for park

British Dictionary definitions for park (2 of 2)