terrace

[ter-uhs]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrace¹

1505–15; earlier terrasse < Middle French < Old Provençal terrassa < Vulgar Latin *terrācea, feminine of *terrāceus. See terra, -aceous

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrace¹

C16: from Old French terrasse, from Old Provençal terrassa pile of earth, from terra earth, from Latin

Example Sentences

"It was nothing back in the day, just a normal house like a terraced house with a couple of lights up," she said.

Read more on BBC

Flares were let off, ticker tape flickered in the air and a stunning tifo rose from the terraces with an accompanying banner reading "For my town, for my club".

Read more on BBC

Architects and developers think terraces will address that issue.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The spacious bedroom has a walk-in closet, private terrace, and built-in desk.

Read more on MarketWatch

The cross-shaped tower designed by Seattle architecture firm Mithun would include common courtyard and terrace areas oriented toward Levering Avenue, the study said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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