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

We sat on Air Mail’s back patio, surrounded by clusters of people reading, working on their laptops and talking among themselves.

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“To access the outdoors, you had to walk down concrete steps to a covered patio.”

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“Having done so many records with different situations and motivations, we decided we wanted to do something for ourselves,” Burgan adds via Zoom from the patio of a coffee shop.

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The restaurant has a lively energy, with giant shutters that create an indoor-outdoor vibe and a patio perfect for warm evenings.

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From the patio, diners can gaze at the jagged crown of Mt.

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Related Words

• balcony 
• courtyard 
• deck 
• veranda