patio

American  

[pat-ee-oh, pah-tee-oh] / ˈpæt iˌoʊ, ˈpɑ tiˌoʊ /

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.

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patio British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of patio

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

Example Sentences

The spread features eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, plus a media room, four outdoor swimming pools, patios and terraces, and a 15-car garage.

From MarketWatch

There are also “two guest apartments with two additional guest suites” that feature private patios and separate entrances, according to the listing.

From MarketWatch

Mireya’s gifts weren’t yet wrapped, so Franco guided her and her son to one of the many patio chairs in her backyard.

From Los Angeles Times

“I tell her, ‘Anytime you’re thinking of me, I was already thinking of you,” she said from the patio of her Long Beach apartment.

From Los Angeles Times

Campbell, who enjoys having coffee on the outdoor patio with Al, agrees.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• balcony
• courtyard
• deck
• veranda