terrace

American  

[ter-uhs] / ˈtɛr əs /

noun

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.

---

verb (used with or without object)

terraced, terracing

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

---

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• terraceless adjective
• unterraced adjective

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

As the crowd swelled and the sound bled, Do LaB was moved to a far corner of the terrace.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Much like the living room, the couple’s bedroom features its own sliding glass doors that open up to a private terrace overlooking the backyard and swimming pool area.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

The maker of Aperol is banking on selling a taste of Italy’s terrace lifestyle to more Americans, part of its chief executive’s plan to grab market share and sales growth in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

His customers appeared to appreciate the decision, with most tables full of young people on their laptops or chatting quietly in the shade of the roof terrace.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

My vision blurry, I find my way outside to the terrace and sit at the table Mr. Harris and I used to sit at, back when he was feeling well enough to go outside.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

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