noun
Common
plaza
PLA-zuh
Plaza (noun) means an open public square in a town or city. Example: “We met by the fountain in the middle of the plaza.”
noun
1
An open public square in a town or city.
"We met by the fountain in the middle of the plaza."
"Market stalls fill the old plaza every Saturday morning."
"Tourists gathered in the central plaza."
"Tourists gathered in the plaza to watch the street performers."
2
A shopping centre or strip mall.
"There is a big car park outside the plaza, next to the supermarket."
"I picked up some stamps at the post office in the plaza."
"The hotel overlooks a busy shopping plaza."
"There's a pharmacy and a diner at the plaza on Main Street."
How to use plaza
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn open square, or in American English, a small shopping centre.
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Word forms
- Plural
- plazas
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We met by the fountain in the middle of the _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish plaza ("town square"), from Latin platea, ultimately from Greek plateia ("broad street"). A doublet of piazza and place.
Related words
Rhymes for plaza
See all rhymes for plaza →Frequently asked questions
What does “plaza” mean?
The word “plaza” means an open public square in a town or city. In plain terms, an open square, or in American English, a small shopping centre.
How do you pronounce “plaza”?
“Plaza” is pronounced PLA-zuh (/ˈplɑːzə/ in IPA).
How do you use “plaza” in a sentence?
Here is “plaza” used in a sentence: “Tourists gathered in the plaza to watch the street performers.”
What is another word for “plaza”?
Words with a similar meaning to “plaza” include square.
What part of speech is “plaza”?
“Plaza” is a noun.
Where does the word “plaza” come from?
The word “plaza” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Spanish plaza ("town square"), from Latin platea, ultimately from Greek plateia ("broad street"). A doublet of piazza and place.
Is “plaza” a common word?
“Plaza” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “plaza” have?
“Plaza” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an open public square in a town or city.
What is the difference between a plaza and a square?
Both words can mean an open public space in a town or city, and they are often interchangeable. "Plaza" can also refer to a shopping centre or strip mall, a meaning that "square" does not usually carry. "Square" is the more general English term for a public open space.
What is the difference between a plaza and a mall?
A "mall" is typically an enclosed shopping complex under one roof. A "plaza" can be an open public square, or an open-air shopping centre or strip mall. The main contrast is that a plaza is usually open, while a mall is enclosed.
What is the difference between a plaza and a courtyard?
A "plaza" is an open public square, freely accessible to people in a town or city. A "courtyard" is an open area enclosed by walls or buildings, and is often private or semi-private. A plaza is public and open, while a courtyard is enclosed and more contained.
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