terrace
TEH-ruhs
Terrace (noun) means a paved outdoor area attached to a house, often used for sitting or dining. Example: “We ate breakfast on the sunny terrace every morning of our holiday.”
noun
1
A paved outdoor area attached to a house, often used for sitting or dining.
"We ate breakfast on the sunny terrace every morning of our holiday."
"The hotel has a large terrace where guests can watch the sunset."
"They had coffee on the terrace overlooking the garden."
2
A row of houses joined together in a single connected structure.
"Their small terrace has a long shared wall with the neighbours on each side."
"A long terrace of red-brick cottages runs along the old canal."
"She grew up in a Victorian terrace in east London."
3
A flat, raised area cut into a slope, often used for farming.
"Vines grow on each terrace of the steep valley slope."
"Visitors walked along the narrow terrace between the tea bushes."
"Rice terraces cover the hillsides of the region."
verb
1
To shape land into a series of flat, stepped levels.
"They plan to terrace the garden slope so rain does not wash the soil away."
"Villagers have terraced these mountain slopes for centuries to grow vegetables."
"Farmers terraced the hillside to grow crops on the steep slope."
How to use terrace
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flat outdoor platform, a row of connected houses, or a stepped area of farmland, depending on context.
UK vs US
In British English, a "terrace" or "terraced house" is a common home type; Americans would usually say "row house" or "townhouse."
Common pairings
terraced house
roof terrace
rice terraces
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Word forms
- Plural
- terraces
- Third person singular
- terraces
- Past tense
- terraced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ate breakfast on the sunny _____ every morning of our holiday.
Etymology
From French terrasse, from Old Occitan terrassa, from terra, "land."
Related words
Rhymes for terrace
See all rhymes for terrace →Frequently asked questions
What does “terrace” mean?
The word “terrace” means a paved outdoor area attached to a house, often used for sitting or dining. In plain terms, a flat outdoor platform, a row of connected houses, or a stepped area of farmland, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “terrace”?
“Terrace” is pronounced TEH-ruhs (/ˈtɛɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “terrace” in a sentence?
Here is “terrace” used in a sentence: “They had coffee on the terrace overlooking the garden.”
What is another word for “terrace”?
Words with a similar meaning to “terrace” include terrasse.
What part of speech is “terrace”?
Depending on how it is used, “terrace” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “terrace” come from?
The word “terrace” comes from French. From French terrasse, from Old Occitan terrassa, from terra, "land.".
Is “terrace” a common word?
“Terrace” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “terrace” have?
“Terrace” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a paved outdoor area attached to a house, often used for sitting or dining.
What is the difference between a terrace and a patio?
Both are paved outdoor areas for sitting or dining, and the words often overlap. A patio is usually at ground level next to a house, while a terrace can also be a raised or paved platform, and in some regions the term is preferred for a larger or elevated area.
What is the difference between a terrace and a balcony?
A terrace is generally a larger, often ground-level or roof-level paved area that people can walk around on. A balcony is a small platform projecting from an upper wall of a building, enclosed by a railing, and is not built on the ground.
What is a terraced house?
A terraced house is one of a row of houses joined together in a single connected structure, sharing side walls with its neighbours. This uses the sense of terrace meaning a continuous row of linked homes, common in British towns and cities.
