terrace

1 of 2

noun

ter·​race ˈter-əs 

ˈte-rəs

1

a

: a relatively level paved or planted area adjoining a building

b

: a colonnaded porch or promenade

c

: a flat roof or open platform

2

a

: one of usually a series of horizontal ridges made in a hillside to increase cultivatable land, conserve moisture, or minimize erosion

b

: a raised embankment with the top leveled

3

: a level ordinarily narrow plain usually with steep front bordering a river, lake, or sea

also : a similar undersea feature

4

a

: a row of houses or apartments on raised ground or a sloping site

b

: a group of row houses

c

: a strip of park in the middle of a street often planted with trees or shrubs

d

: street

5

: a section of a British soccer stadium set aside for standing spectators

terrace

2 of 2

verb

terraced; terracing

transitive verb

1

: to provide (something, such as a building or hillside) with a terrace

2

: to make into a terrace

Synonyms

Noun

• balcony
• deck
• sundeck

Examples of terrace in a Sentence

Noun

rice growing in hillside terraces

For sale: large three-bedroom house with adjoining terrace and garden.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Beyond its slightly more than 6,000 square feet of living space, the expansive outdoor terrace is where key amenities tied to the incentive come into play, like an ice bath and a sauna. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024

Ideal for hosting, a private dining room, a chef’s catering kitchen, and a lounge boasting an expansive terrace are available to residents. —Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

The backyard was located on a sunny, south-facing slope where the owners had recently installed a new deck and terraced the yard with concrete. —Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 29 July 2024

There’s 1,500 square feet of terracing around the 50-foot heated swimming pool and pool house, along with a sunken tennis court for getting a bit more active. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, platform, terrace, from Old French, from Old Occitan terrassa, from terra earth, from Latin, earth, land; akin to Latin torrēre to parch — more at thirst

First Known Use

Noun

1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

terrace

1 of 2 noun

ter·​race ˈter-əs 

1

a

: a flat roof or open platform

b

: a level area next to a building

2

a

: a raised piece of land with the top leveled off

b

: one of a group of horizontal ridges made in a hillside to conserve moisture and prevent loss of soil for agriculture

3

: a row of houses on raised ground or a sloping site

terrace

2 of 2 verb

terraced; terracing

: to make into a terrace or supply with terraces