patio

[pat-ee-oh, pah-tee-oh]

noun

plural

patios 

1. an area, usually paved, adjoining a house and used as an area for outdoor lounging, dining, etc.

2. a courtyard, especially of a house, enclosed by low buildings or walls.

patio

/ ˈpætɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. an open inner courtyard, esp one in a Spanish or Spanish-American house

2. an area adjoining a house, esp one that is paved and used for outdoor activities

Word History and Origins

Origin of patio¹

1820–30, < Spanish, Old Spanish: courtyard, perhaps originally open area; compare Medieval Latin patium meadow, pasturage, perhaps derivative of Latin *patitus, past participle of patēre to lie open. See patent

Word History and Origins

Origin of patio¹

C19: from Spanish: courtyard

Example Sentences

Moving to the outdoor area, there is a gorgeous patio area with a fire pit, making it the perfect spot for guests to gather outside.

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‘I feel shaken’: A man offered to powerwash my patio for $50.

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Available in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch models, it fits everything from intimate patios to sprawling decks.

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Prices have risen most in import categories such as electronics and patio furniture, he said.

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I’m back outside, on the patio, bound to one of the wicker chairs I saw earlier.

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Related Words

• balcony 
• courtyard 
• deck 
• veranda