yard
/jɑrd/
NOUN
1. An outdoor area beside or around a building
A piece of open land adjoining or surrounding a house or other building, often used for recreation, gardening, or other outdoor activities.
1.1. A private outdoor space around a house
An area of land surrounding or adjoining a home, which may include grass, plants, trees, or other outdoor features.
Synonyms
Examples
- The children played games in the spacious yard behind the house.
- The cat lazily stretched out in the sunny yard, enjoying the warmth.
- They planted flowers and shrubs throughout the yard.
Related Words
1.2. An open area belonging to a property
A piece of outdoor ground within the boundaries of a property, particularly one associated with a house, institution, or other building.
Synonyms
- grounds
- premises
- property
Examples
- The school yard was filled with students during the lunch break.
- The workers gathered in the yard outside the building.
Related Words
NOUN
2. An enclosed area for a particular purpose
An enclosed or designated outdoor area used for a specific activity, such as keeping animals, storing materials, or handling railway equipment.
2.1. An enclosed area for animals or equipment
A bounded outdoor space used to contain animals or accommodate particular operations, materials, or equipment.
Synonyms
- enclosure
- compound
- pen
- corral
Examples
- The horses were kept in a fenced yard near the barn.
- The railway yard was filled with freight cars waiting to be moved.
- The workers stored construction materials in the enclosed yard.
Related Words
NOUN
3. A unit of length
A unit of measurement equal to three feet or exactly 0.9144 meters in the US customary and British imperial systems.
3.1. Measuring distance or length
A standard unit used to measure the length of objects, distances, or materials, equivalent to three feet.
Synonyms
- three feet
- 0.9144 meters
- 0.9144 metres
Examples
- The fabric store sells the material by the yard.
- The football field measures 100 yards between the goal lines.
- She bought two yards of ribbon for the project.
Related Words
- foot
- inch
- meter
- centimeter
NOUN
4. A horizontal spar on a sailing vessel
A horizontal pole or spar carried aloft on a sailing ship, traditionally used to support a sail.
4.1. A spar supporting a ship's sail
A horizontal structural pole attached to a mast and used to spread or support a sail.
Synonyms
- sail spar
Examples
- The sailors climbed the rigging to inspect the yard.
- The crew secured the sail to the yard before the ship left the harbor.
Related Words
- mast
- boom
- rigging
- sail
VERB
5. To confine within an enclosed area
To restrict an animal or person to a yard or enclosed outdoor space.
5.1. Restricting movement to an enclosed space
Keeping an animal or person within a designated outdoor enclosure rather than allowing them to move freely elsewhere.
Synonyms
- confine
- enclose
- pen
- fence in
Antonyms
- release
- free
Examples
- The farmer yarded the cattle before the storm arrived.
- The animals were yarded in a secure enclosure overnight.